There is no need to go to the emergency room if

Your health problem can wait for a doctor's appointment the next day (or Monday, if it's the weekend), for example:

• a bearable pain for several days
• need for a medical certificate
• need to renew a prescription
• a vaccine
• requesting an extension of sick leave
• an X-ray, a scan, a blood test
• a pregnancy test…

You should go to the emergency room if

You have a serious problem and need a doctor immediately, for example:

• pain in the chest or left arm
• a wound with a lot of blood
• an object stuck in the body
• blood flowing from the mouth, nose, or when you go to the toilet (hemorrhage)
• You can no longer move an arm, a leg, or your head (paralysis).
• high fever for a long time
• a large burn that hurts, swells, and changes color
• an electric shock (electrocution)
• loss of consciousness (fainting)
• your body moves uncontrollably, your muscles become rigid (convulsions)
• difficulty breathing, speaking or walking
• road accident on foot, motorcycle or scooter, on a kick scooter, on a bicycle, in a car (even if you are not hurt)
• you have vomited several times (food poisoning or medication poisoning).
• you fell and your arm or leg is broken (fractured).
• facial swelling due to an allergy
• severe headache or stomach pain (intense pain in a specific area)
• you tried to kill yourself (suicide attempt)

In case of doubt

If you are concerned about another unusual health problem, before going to the emergency room:

• During the week and during the day, contact your doctor or book an urgent appointment with a general practitioner via teleconsultation on Doctolib.
• If your regular doctor is unavailable, if you can't find another doctor, or if it's evening or the weekend, contact SOS Médecins. via the internet or by telephone at 01 47 07 77 77 (departments) 75, 92, 93, 94) or call 3624 (all of France) (€0.15/min + call cost). You can request a medical appointment at a center or at home, or a teleconsultation.
• At any time of day or night, to speak to a professional immediately, call on:
• • 15 (SAMU)
  • or 18 (fire department) if you can communicate in French
  • or 114 (emergency number for deaf, hard-of-hearing people, people with speech difficulties)
  • or 112 (European emergency number) if you speak English or another language.

In any case, try to explain your problem in detail (where exactly does it hurt, for how long, injury or accident…) and the professional will tell you:

• if you need to go to the emergency room
• if you need to see an on-call doctor
• if a doctor can come directly to your home (home visit)
• if an ambulance or the fire brigade comes to pick you up at your home.

If the professional tells you to go to the emergency room, they will give you the address of a hospital.

To find the address of an emergency service near you:

1. Go to the website www.sante.fr

2. Write the name of your city in "Specify a location" (at the top)

3. Click on the green magnifying glass to start the search

4. Choose a hospital from the list or on the map.

There are also specialized emergency services:

• pediatric emergencies (for sick babies and children or accident victims)
• gynecological and obstetric emergencies (for pregnant women)
• dental emergencies (for teeth)
• ophthalmic emergencies (for the eyes)
• cardiac emergencies (for the heart)
• psychiatric emergencies (for psychological problems)
• dermatological emergencies (for the skin)
• poison control centers (if you have eaten something toxic).

The emergency department is usually a separate building next to a hospital or clinic, indicated by “URGENCES” signs.

Before leaving, take with you:

• your health insurance card or your health insurance certificate if you have one
• your health insurance card if you have one
• an identity document (receipt, residence permit , etc.)
• your phone and a charger
• your bank card or cash
• your medications if you have an illness (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure…)
• clothes (coat, t-shirt, pants) and underwear to change into if you are staying overnight.
• a pacifier, a toy, diapers, a bottle… if you are with a child.

Emergency room reception varies from hospital to hospital, but there are always two stages:

• Administrative reception: creation of a file with your identity and your health insurance card (if you have one)
• You will receive initial care from a nurse: assessment of your problem, blood pressure and temperature check, dressings if needed... They will then direct you to the treatment room or the waiting room. Don't hesitate to ask them any questions, even simple ones.

If you are in the waiting room, depending on your situation, follow the nurse's instructions regarding the possibility of drinking or eating, taking medication, and wearing a mask.

Your waiting time depends on:

• the urgency of your situation
• the number and situation of other people arriving at the emergency room
• the availability of doctors and medical equipment, the care to be provided…

You have to be patient and wait calmly.

When it's your turn, a nurse or doctor will call you into the treatment room.

In the treatment room, depending on your situation, there is:

• a medical consultation with an emergency physician and possibly a specialist (who may take some time to arrive)
• medical examinations (scan, x-ray, blood test…).

While you wait for the results, you sometimes have to go back to the waiting room, or stay in a "box" (a small room) with a bed to lie down on.

Depending on your situation and the waiting time, a light meal is offered.

A doctor will give you a "discharge authorization". Depending on your condition, you will go:

• to a hospital room if you need further tests or an operation. In this case, you can ask a trusted person to bring you some things (clothes, toothbrush, soap, etc.)
• at home with a prescription, possibly medication for the first few hours, documents and a letter for your doctor (if you have one).

If you leave the emergency room without staying at the hospital, you have to pay 23 euros for the "emergency patient package" (FPU).
Depending on your situation, it may be possible to pay nothing (free) or to benefit from a discount. ( The different cases are specified here).

You can pay:

• directly upon leaving the emergency department
• when you receive the bill from the hospital.

If you remain hospitalized after the emergency room, you can pay for everything at the end.

If someone has a health emergency in front of you, it is possible to learn first aid techniques: what to do if a child has stopped breathing, how to help an adult who is having a heart attack…

This helps save lives while waiting for the ambulance or firefighters to arrive.

It's a practical training course lasting a few hours with professionals and real-life scenarios. It costs from €20 and you need to book in advance.

Everything is explained by clicking here (Civil Protection) or there (Red Cross).

If you have a physical or mental health problem, there are phone numbers with professionals who will listen to you and help you find solutions:

• Suicide Prevention Helpline: 01 45 39 40 00
• Alcohol Information Service: 0 980 980 930
• Drugs Info Service: 0 800 23 13 13
• Women's Violence Information: 3919
• Child Protection Helpline: 119