Knowing how to access emergency services in Italy could be the most important practical knowledge you carry as an expat. Italy’s emergency system has been modernized significantly in recent years, with a single European emergency number now active in most regions, but the structure still differs from the U.S. in important ways. This guide covers every emergency number, how the system works, what to expect at the hospital, how to interact with police, and how to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies.
Emergency Numbers
112: The Single European Emergency Number (NUE)
Italy has adopted 112 as its single emergency number (Numero Unico di Emergenza, NUE), following the EU directive. Calling 112 connects you to a centralized call center that identifies your location, determines the type of emergency, and routes your call to the appropriate service (medical, police, or fire). The 112 system supports multiple languages, including English, through interpreter services. It works from any phone (including locked mobile phones with no SIM card) and is free of charge.
As of 2024/2025, the NUE 112 system is fully operational in most Italian regions, though a few areas are still completing the transition. In those areas, the legacy direct numbers still function.
Legacy Direct Numbers (Still Active)
Even where 112 is fully operational, the direct service numbers continue to work. 118 is for medical emergencies (emergenza sanitaria), connecting you to the regional emergency medical service that dispatches ambulances. 113 reaches the Polizia di Stato (State Police), the national police force handling criminal matters, public order, and immigration. 112 (original function) reaches the Carabinieri, the military police force that also handles criminal investigations, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. 115 is for the Vigili del Fuoco (Fire Brigade), handling fires, structural emergencies, and technical rescues. 1530 reaches the Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard) for maritime emergencies. 117 reaches the Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police) for financial crimes, customs violations, and tax fraud.
If you are unsure which number to call, dial 112. The operator will route you correctly.
Medical Emergencies
Calling 118 / 112
When you call for a medical emergency, the dispatcher will ask for your location (address, landmarks, city), what happened (symptoms, accident type, number of people involved), and the patient’s condition (conscious, breathing, bleeding). Stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. They may provide first-aid instructions while the ambulance is en route.
The Pronto Soccorso (Emergency Room)
Italy’s emergency rooms operate a triage system with color-coded priority levels. Red (codice rosso) is for life-threatening emergencies with immediate treatment. Orange/Yellow (codice arancione/giallo) is for urgent conditions, seen within 15 to 60 minutes. Green (codice verde) is for non-urgent conditions with wait times of 1 to 4+ hours. White (codice bianco) is for non-emergency cases that should have gone to a GP; these may wait 4+ hours and may be charged a ticket (copay) of EUR 25 to EUR 50 for inappropriate ER use.
Emergency treatment at public hospitals is provided to everyone regardless of insurance status, citizenship, or residency. The SSN covers emergency care. For ongoing healthcare coverage, see our healthcare guide and health insurance guide.
What to Bring to the ER
Your tessera sanitaria (health card) if you have one, a valid ID (passport or carta d’identità), your codice fiscale, a list of current medications, and any relevant medical records. If you do not have Italian documents, you will still be treated; the administrative side can be handled afterward.
Guardia Medica (After-Hours Medical Service)
For non-emergency medical issues outside of GP office hours (nights, weekends, holidays), Italy provides the Guardia Medica (also called Continuità Assistenziale). This is a free service staffed by doctors who can provide phone consultations, home visits, and prescriptions. The number varies by region and city; ask your local ASL or check the Ministry of Health website for your area’s contact. This service prevents unnecessary ER visits for issues like fevers, minor infections, medication needs, and after-hours medical advice.
Police Services
Italy has multiple police forces, which can be confusing for newcomers.
Polizia di Stato (State Police)
The national civilian police force, operating from Questure (provincial police headquarters) and Commissariati (local stations). They handle criminal investigations, public safety, immigration matters (the Ufficio Immigrazione at the Questura processes residence permits), passport and ID services, and traffic policing on highways (Polizia Stradale). Contact: 113 or visit questure.poliziadistato.it to find your local Questura.
Carabinieri
A military police force with broad law enforcement responsibilities, particularly active in smaller towns and rural areas where there may be no Polizia di Stato presence. They handle criminal investigations, organized crime, environmental crimes, food safety enforcement, and military police duties. Contact: 112 or visit your local Stazione dei Carabinieri. The Carabinieri website has a station locator.
Polizia Municipale / Polizia Locale (Municipal Police)
Locally operated police handling traffic enforcement, parking violations, noise complaints, building code enforcement, and local ordinance compliance. They are the vigili urbani you encounter for everyday municipal matters.
Filing a Police Report (Denuncia)
If you are a victim of a crime (theft, assault, fraud, etc.), you must file a denuncia (police report) at any Polizia di Stato or Carabinieri station. You can also file online through the Commissariato di PS Online for certain non-violent crimes (primarily theft and fraud). The denuncia is essential for insurance claims, replacing stolen documents, and any subsequent legal proceedings. Request a copy of the filed report for your records.
If You Are Arrested or Detained
You have the right to legal representation, to remain silent, to an interpreter, and to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The Embassy can provide a list of English-speaking attorneys, notify family, and ensure your rights are respected, but cannot intervene in the Italian legal process. See our legal system guide for more on your rights.
Fire and Civil Protection
Vigili del Fuoco (Fire Brigade)
Call 115 (or 112) for fires, gas leaks, structural collapses, flooding, vehicle accidents with entrapment, and animal rescues. The Vigili del Fuoco website provides safety information and station locations.
Protezione Civile (Civil Protection)
The Dipartimento della Protezione Civile coordinates response to natural disasters and large-scale emergencies, including earthquakes (Italy is seismically active, particularly in central and southern regions), volcanic activity (Vesuvius, Etna, Stromboli, Campi Flegrei), flooding and landslides (particularly in autumn), and severe weather events.
Download the IT-alert system information from it-alert.it. Italy has implemented a national public warning system that sends emergency alerts directly to mobile phones in affected areas, similar to the U.S. Wireless Emergency Alert system.
Consular Assistance
The U.S. Embassy in Rome and U.S. Consulates in Milan, Florence, and Naples provide assistance to American citizens in emergencies, including passport replacement (if stolen or lost), help contacting family, assistance in medical or legal emergencies, welfare and whereabouts checks, and evacuation coordination in crisis situations. The after-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is available on the Embassy website. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security alerts and enable the Embassy to assist you in an emergency.
Pharmacy Emergencies
Italian pharmacies (farmacie) operate a rotation system ensuring at least one pharmacy is open 24/7 in every area. The on-duty pharmacy (farmacia di turno) is posted on the door of every closed pharmacy, published in local newspapers, and available through apps like “Farmacia Aperta” or your local ASL website. Pharmacists in Italy can provide basic medical advice, dispense many medications without a prescription that would require one in the U.S., and administer some vaccinations.
Preparing for Emergencies
Keep these items accessible: a photocopy or digital scan of your passport, codice fiscale, tessera sanitaria, and permesso di soggiorno. Save the emergency numbers (112, 118, 113, 115) in your phone. Know your nearest Pronto Soccorso (ER), Questura, and Carabinieri station. Register with STEP at the U.S. Embassy. Download the IT-alert app and familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes if you live in a seismic or volcanic zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will emergency operators speak English?
The 112 NUE call centers have interpreter services and can handle calls in English. Direct calls to 118, 113, or 115 may or may not reach an English-speaking operator, depending on the region and time of day. In major cities, English capability is more common. If there is a language barrier, stay calm, state your location clearly, and say “English please” or “emergenza” followed by key words (fire/fuoco, ambulance/ambulanza, police/polizia).
Is emergency care free?
Emergency treatment at public hospitals is free for genuine emergencies (red, orange, and yellow triage codes) regardless of your insurance or residency status. White-code cases (non-emergencies) may be charged a copay. Follow-up care after the emergency may require SSN registration or private payment.
What if I need to call emergency services from a rural area?
112 works nationwide and uses cell tower triangulation and GPS to identify your location. In very remote areas, response times may be longer. If you can, provide the name of the nearest town, road name, and any landmarks. Mountain rescue (Soccorso Alpino) can be reached through 112 for hiking and climbing emergencies.