'Ambulance Services in Germany: When to Call 112, What to Say, and Who

In Germany, you call 112 for an ambulance or emergency responders. This is the single European number for life-threatening situations, severe injuries, fires, or other urgent emergencies. If the condition is uncomfortable but doesn’t seem like an emergency, 116117—the ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst, or on-call medical service outside of regular office hours—is usually the better option.

The main rule is simple: if a person could die, lose consciousness, suffocate, suffer irreversible harm, or is rapidly deteriorating, call 112. If you’re unsure, it’s better to call and honestly describe the symptoms to the dispatcher than to waste time.

When to Call 112

The 112 number is for emergencies, such as:

• loss of consciousness or severe impairment of consciousness;
• severe shortness of breath, choking, or a severe asthma attack;
• Signs of a heart attack: severe chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, cold sweat;
• Signs of a stroke: sudden weakness or paralysis, facial drooping, slurred speech;
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped;
• severe injury, serious traffic accident, fall from a height;
• severe burns, electric shock, drowning;
• anaphylactic shock;
• poisoning, especially if there are breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, or if a child is involved;
• seizures that continue or recur;
• sudden labor or pregnancy complications;
• A suicide attempt or an immediate threat to life.

The dispatch center operator will ask questions and determine which emergency response team to send: an ambulance, an emergency physician, firefighters, or another service. In Germany, emergency medical services are organized at the state and regional levels, so details may vary by state and city.

What to Tell the Dispatcher

First, state the location. Even if your smartphone is sharing your location, you can’t rely on it completely: the address, floor, entrance, landmarks, and how to get inside can often make a difference of minutes.

Tell the dispatcher:

1. Where did it happen? City, street, building, floor, entrance, landmarks, direction of travel on the highway.
2. What happened? In short: a car accident, chest pain, an unconscious person, heavy bleeding.
3. How many people are affected? One person or several.
4. Who is calling? Your name and phone number for follow-up.
5. What are the current symptoms? Is the person breathing? Are they conscious? Are there any dangers in the vicinity?

Do not hang up first. The dispatcher may give first aid instructions, such as for CPR, and will end the call themselves once they have the necessary information.

Can you call from a cell phone and in English?

112 works without an area code, from both cell phones and landlines. The number is toll-free in the EU. On many smartphones, you can make an emergency call from the locked screen by pressing the Notruf or Emergency button.

Some dispatch centers may be able to communicate in English or connect you to assistance, but this should not be taken as a guarantee. If your German is limited, use short words: Ambulance, Notarzt, unconscious, breathing problem, along with the address and phone number. If possible, ask a German-speaking person to stay nearby, but don’t delay the call if the situation is dangerous.

Modern mobile devices may automatically transmit your location during an emergency call, but you still need to provide the exact address yourself.

Who Responds to the Call

Depending on the situation, the dispatcher may send:

• Rettungswagen (RTW) — an ambulance with trained personnel;
• Notarzt — an emergency physician, often arriving in a separate vehicle;
• Feuerwehr — firefighters and rescue workers, if you need access, evacuation, or technical assistance;
• Rettungshubschrauber — a rescue helicopter, if it’s faster or the location is hard to reach.

An ambulance crew usually consists of emergency medical service (Rettungsdienst) specialists, such as emergency paramedics (Notfallsanitäter). A doctor (Notarzt) isn’t needed for every call: they’re dispatched for serious conditions that require on-site medical intervention.

Ambulances are equipped to stabilize patients and transport them to a hospital: oxygen, monitoring equipment, a defibrillator, medications, bandages, stretchers, and other supplies depend on the type of vehicle and local requirements.

Specialized vehicles for newborns and infants may be called Baby-Notarztwagen or operate as part of specialized neonatal transport services. They are not used uniformly in every region, so you shouldn’t count on them as a standard option for calling for help.

Ambulance personnel undergo special training. Doctors in Germany receive additional training to become Notarzt (emergency physicians) for work in emergency care.

How to let an ambulance pass on the road

Emergency vehicles use blue flashing lights and sirens. When these are activated, other road users are required to clear the way immediately.

On highways and multi-lane roads during a traffic jam, a Rettungsgasse—an emergency corridor—is formed in advance. Cars in the left lane move as far to the left as possible, while all other lanes shift to the right. It’s important to start forming this corridor as soon as traffic begins to slow down, not just when you hear a siren behind you.

When obtaining a German driver’s license (), the rules regarding the emergency services pass () and the emergency lane (Rettungsgasse) are explained separately.

Who pays for the ambulance call?

If the call is medically justified, the costs are usually covered by health insurance: either public GKV or private PKV, depending on the terms of the policy. The patient may have to pay copayments or face specific reimbursement conditions, especially with private insurance, but emergency care should not be delayed out of fear of the bill.

You may face billing issues if you call an ambulance as a substitute for a taxi, your primary care physician, or a scheduled clinic visit without a medical necessity. Therefore, for non-emergency but urgent issues, call 116117 or contact an on-call clinic (Bereitschaftspraxis).

Do not try to assess the severity of the situation on your own when someone is in a life-threatening condition. If there is a real threat to life or serious harm to health, call 112.

When to call 116117 instead of 112

116117 is the Patient Service and on-call medical service. This number is appropriate when you need a doctor quickly, but the condition does not appear to be life-threatening, and your regular doctor’s office is closed—in the evening, at night, on weekends, or on holidays.

Typical situations for 116117:

• a high fever without signs of a life-threatening condition;
• severe pain in the throat or ear;
• acute cystitis;
• back pain;
• vomiting or diarrhea without signs of severe dehydration;
• Questions about where to go today: family doctor, on-call clinic, or emergency room.

If it becomes clear during the call that the situation is an emergency, the service will direct you to call 112 or go to the emergency room (Notaufnahme).

Misuse of the 112 number

Intentionally making a false call or knowingly abusing the emergency call system in Germany may be a criminal offense under §145 StGB: it is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to one year. This specifically applies to intentional abuse or the simulation of a danger.

An honest mistake is not usually a crime. If you genuinely fear for someone’s life or health, don’t be afraid to call.

Additional Services

On-call pharmacies — Notapotheken

If you urgently need medication and regular pharmacies are closed, look for the nearest on-call pharmacy on the doors of any pharmacy or through the websites apotheken.de and aponet.de.

Poisoning — Poison Control Hotline

If you suspect poisoning, call the regional Giftnotruf. If there is a life-threatening situation, breathing difficulties, seizures, or loss of consciousness, call 112 immediately. The BVL publishes a list of poison control centers: bvl.bund.de.

Psychological Crisis

In a crisis, you can contact TelefonSeelsorge at 116 123. This is an anonymous support service in German. Children and teenagers can call 116 111. In the event of an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 112.

Medical Care Without Insurance

If you do not have health insurance, a hospital is required to provide emergency care in an emergency. For non-emergency care, look for local clinics, for example through gesundheit-ein-menschenrecht.de or Malteser services.

Quick Reminder

• Life-threatening situations, severe injuries, stroke, heart attack, heavy bleeding: 112.
• If you need a doctor urgently but the situation is not life-threatening and your doctor’s office is closed: 116117.
• If you don’t know the exact address: provide landmarks, the floor, and the entrance, and stay on the line.
• On the road, form a rescue lane in advance.
• False calls are punishable by law, but you should make a call in good faith if you genuinely fear for someone’s life.