Getting injured in a car accident. Falling ill with Dengue. Stepping on a sea urchin. A massive heart attack. Foreigners suffer all sorts of emergencies in Mexico that require immediate attention.
This article will share critical tips on what to do if you find yourself in an emergency and need help in Mexico. Because it pays to be prepared.
Specifically, I’ll explain how to access Mexico’s essential emergency services if you fear for your safety, suffer an acute medical problem, or experience a natural disaster.
You may even want to bookmark this page — because frantically searching Google for this information during a crisis wastes valuable time.
Important Phone Numbers To Know
911: This is the primary emergency number in Mexico, similar to the United States and Canada, for police, medical, and fire emergencies.
Operated by Mexico’s Interior Ministry, it’s been the standard method to report an emergency since 2016, and the first number to call if you or someone close to you has an urgent medical problem or your life is in danger.
Incoming calls to 911 get routed to the nearest service provider, based on the type of help you need.
066: This is the police emergency phone number.
If 911 doesn’t work, plan B in an emergency is to dial 066.
065: This is a backup number to request ambulance services. It connects you directly to Cruz Roja. (Mexico’s Red Cross)
071: This number should be used to report electrical outages to the public utility CFE.
Having the Right Tech
Since all of these numbers will require a Mexican cell phone to work, one of the best safety prevention measures you can take as an expat or tourist visiting Mexico is to buy a Mexican SIM card for your cell phone.
Sim cards are easy to get at Oxxo or an AT&T store, and very inexpensive. They can be purchased pre-loaded, or you can pay as you go, based on the number of days you need coverage.
For more information on buying SIM cards and getting a Mexican cell phone number, check out my previous post on this topic.
Communicating with Emergency Services
The default language for Mexico’s public emergency system is Spanish. In major cities, an operator who speaks English may be available, if requested.
Be prepared to share your location (street address, neighborhood, city) and what type of emergency it is. If you have private insurance, be sure to share this information with the first responder you speak with by phone.
If you aren’t comfortable communicating in Spanish, fear not — many locations in Mexico have emergency resources available to help tourists and those with language difficulties.
Where You Will be Taken in a Medical Emergency
In brief, it depends.
If a patient’s condition is severe and their life is in danger, the ambulance paramedics will take you to the nearest hospital. Those with public IMSS coverage will be taken to an IMSS medical facility.
If there are resource constraints at the nearest facility they may choose to take you to another hospital. Those with private insurance who request a specific private hospital will be taken to the facility of their choice (and required to pay out of pocket).
The Difference Between Cruz Roja and Cruz Verde
Cruz Roja Mexicana (the Mexican Red Cross) is a non-profit organization with more than one hundred years of experience operating in Mexico. It was created by presidential decree in 1910 under the rule of Dictator Porfirio Díaz.
Like the American Red Cross, Cruz Roja is a first responder in natural disasters, but also provides an essential safety net to some of Mexico’s poorest citizens, i.e. those who cannot afford insurance premiums for the public health system (IMSS), or private care.
Cruz Roja operates free clinics, hospitals, and emergency ambulance services, with professional teams as well as thousands of volunteers available to execute its work.
This organization receives all of its funding from private donations as it’s prohibited under Mexican law from accepting government funding.
Cruz Verde is part of FEMSA Salud, a for-profit healthcare company that operates in Mexico as well as Colombia, Chile, and Ecuador.
They run health clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and private ambulance services, and are frequently called upon to help victims of car accidents and crime scenes.
Green Angels (Angeles Verdes)
An alternative to the main 911 system is the Green Angels. This organization is operated by Mexico’s Tourism Secretary (SECATUR) and provides services in English.
To reach the Green Angels, dial 078 from a Mexican cell phone. While their capabilities are not as extensive as the 911 system, they’re capable of providing:
- Medical/first-aid help
- Respond to accidents
- Provide disaster assistance
- Coordinate vehicle repairs & towing
Green Angels’ coverage hours and locations are more limited than the 911 system, e.g. they may not be available at night or in rural areas.
Paying For Emergency Services in Mexico
When a foreign resident in Mexico or a tourist requires emergency medical care, they should be prepared to pay out of pocket. Mexican citizens and legal residents are eligible to use public ambulance services for free.
Mexican citizens and foreign residents who have public coverage under IMSS can use ambulance services free of charge, though they must pay insurance premiums to be covered by IMSS.
Private ambulatory companies will expect prompt payment for their services. These operators typically accept foreign credit cards, Mexican credit cards, electronic bank-to-bank transfers, and cash.
Your Mileage May Vary
Like just about everything in Mexico, YMMV when using these emergency services. In major cities like Guadalajara and Mexico City, the system works pretty well.
In rural areas, it may not be possible to get immediate help due to a scarcity of providers or other resource shortages. Remote, sparsely populated areas may not be covered by the 911 system at all.
In some places (most, actually), lack of training and poor coordination between service providers may lead to confusion or delays in receiving care.
Alternate Options
If you’re an older expat or someone dealing with a chronic illness and your risk of needing emergency care is above average, you may want to look at private health coverage with ambulance services.
EMME is a private, membership-based medical service (aka “private ambulance”) available to its customers 24/7, 365 days per year. The cost is $335 MXN (about $17 USD) per month per person.
Let me be clear — I am not endorsing EMME, just letting you know that services like this exist.
Personally, I can’t imagine contracting with an emergency provider that doesn’t have a functional website and receives lots of negative comments on its Facebook page from paying members. Still, it’s a service used by some expats—caveat emptor.
If you buy private health insurance like I do (my plan is with MetLife), your plan/provider is likely to have relationships with quality private hospitals and a dedicated number to call if you need ambulance service. Just be sure to have these numbers stored in your phone so it’s easy to find when you most need it.
Feel free to drop me a note at livewellmexico@gmail.com if interested in learning more about MetLife insurance plan options.