Madeira emergencies: 112, urgent healthcare and official alerts

112 is the single European emergency number. Use it when someone is in immediate danger, there is a risk of rapid deterioration, or fire, police, emergency medical or rescue services are needed. The call is free and the service operates continuously.

SNS 24 provides triage, advice and direction for illness without immediate danger. A professional may recommend self-care, primary care or urgent assessment. If a person loses consciousness, has severe breathing difficulty, signs of stroke, major bleeding, intense chest pain or another potentially life-threatening condition, do not wait for SNS 24: call 112.

• 112: immediate danger, accident, fire, crime or rescue.
• SNS 24: urgent illness without immediate danger and clinical direction.
• Hospital and Civil Protection numbers: general information, never emergency dispatch.

Start with the most precise location possible: road or trail, landmark, municipality and phone coordinates when available. Explain what happened, how many people are involved, their apparent condition and any present hazards. Give your phone number and keep it available for a return call.

Answer the questions and follow the operator’s instructions. Do not hang up until told to do so. If the situation or location changes, contact 112 again. Do not put another person at risk while trying to reach the casualty.

• Location and best access point.
• What happened and when.
• Number of people and apparent condition.
• Hazards such as fire, rockfall, sea conditions or traffic.
• Your name and phone number.

SESARAM runs the regional public health service. Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça in Funchal is the main public hospital identified by the official tourism service for emergencies on Madeira island. In an emergency, call 112 for assessment and direction instead of deciding on your own where to travel.

Travellers should carry identification, a European Health Insurance Card when eligible, and travel-insurance details. Access and possible charges depend on the situation and coverage; the European card does not replace travel insurance or cover every circumstance.

If you are lost, injured, blocked by trail conditions or in danger by the sea, call 112. Share coordinates, the trail name or number, the last recognised point and a description of the group. Save battery, keep the phone accessible and follow the rescue team’s instructions; moving without direction can make you harder to locate.

Before setting out, check official trail status, weather and alerts, save the booking and map offline, and tell someone your route and expected return time. The official tourism service warns that helicopter-rescue costs may be charged on unclassified or officially closed trails.

Madeira Civil Protection publishes public warnings, safety recommendations and regional operational information. IPMA publishes weather warnings, while Visit Madeira and IFCN maintain trail-specific information. Check these sources on the day: mountain, wind, rain, fire and sea conditions can change quickly between parts of the island.

During an incident, prefer official notices with a date and time. Do not share screenshots without context or social posts whose origin you cannot verify.

Save the essential numbers, download maps and documents you may need without a signal, and share your location with a trusted person. Carry a power bank on longer trips and keep important medical details accessible from the phone’s emergency screen, with appropriate privacy choices.

• Save 112 and SNS 24 in your contacts.
• Download maps, bookings and your insurance policy.
• Add an emergency contact and essential medical information.
• Carry a power bank and rain protection.