Emergency Numbers and What to Do in an Emergency
Who to call for police, ambulance, fire and civil defense in Brasil, what to tell the operator, and the Portuguese that helps.
By Vaughn Bullard · · 3 min read
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Brasil does not use a single emergency number like 911. Different services answer different three-digit numbers. Learn them before you need them, and save them in your phone today.
The numbers
The Ministry of Communications published this list in September 2026:
- 190, Military Police (Polícia Militar). Crimes in progress and situations that put people at risk.
- 192, SAMU. The mobile emergency medical service, for urgent and emergency medical situations.
- 193, Fire Brigade (Corpo de Bombeiros). Fires, accidents, rescues and other risk situations.
- 199, Civil Defense (Defesa Civil). Disasters and risks to the population, such as floods and landslides.
- 191, Federal Highway Police (Polícia Rodoviária Federal). Incidents and emergencies on federal highways.
- 180, Women's helpline (Central de Atendimento à Mulher). Guidance and support in situations of violence against women.
Anatel, the telecom regulator, lists these as public utility and emergency services. Calls to emergency numbers are free. Check the official page for the full list of numbers.
What to say
The Ministry of Communications suggests giving the operator, whenever possible:
- The address or location of the incident.
- A reference point, such as a shop, a square or a landmark nearby.
- What happened.
- How many people are involved or hurt.
- Their condition, if there are victims.
- Any other risks, such as a gas leak, exposed wires or fire.
Stay on the line and answer the questions. The operator may give instructions while help is on the way.
If you do not speak Portuguese
Operators may not speak English. Short, clear Portuguese works better than long English. A few phrases:
- Preciso de ajuda. (I need help.)
- É uma emergência. (It is an emergency.)
- Preciso de uma ambulância. (I need an ambulance.)
- Tem uma pessoa ferida. (Someone is injured.)
- Tem fogo. (There is a fire.)
- Fui roubado. / Fui roubada. (I was robbed.)
- O endereço é... (The address is...)
- Perto de... (Near...)
- Não falo bem português. (I do not speak Portuguese well.)
If someone nearby speaks Portuguese, ask them to make the call or to help on the phone. Write your address and a reference point on a card in your wallet; under stress, it is easy to forget the name of your own street.
Before an emergency
- Save the numbers in your phone under clear names, such as "Ambulance 192".
- Know your address in the local format, including the building and apartment number.
- Find the nearest hospital and emergency unit. See Public vs private healthcare.
- Keep your documents accessible. A copy of your passport and, if you have one, your health plan card.
- Tell your insurer. If you have travel or health insurance, save its emergency assistance number too. Many policies want to be told as soon as possible.
After an emergency
- For theft or crime, a police report (boletim de ocorrência) is usually needed for insurance and for replacing documents. Check your state's civil police site for how to file one.
- For a lost or stolen passport, contact the US embassy or consulate.
- For a stolen phone, see Phone theft.
Checklist
- Save 190, 192 and 193 in your phone.
- Write your address and a reference point on a card.
- Learn five emergency phrases.
- Locate the nearest hospital emergency department.
- Save your insurer's assistance number.
Common questions
Which number for a car accident with injuries? 192 for medical help; 193 can also respond to accidents. On a federal highway, 191 handles the road incident.
Does 911 work? Do not rely on it. Use the Brazilian numbers.
Mistakes to avoid
- Dialing 911 out of habit. Save the Brazilian numbers under clear names so you do not need to think.
- Giving a vague location. A street name without a number or a reference point slows everything down.
- Hanging up too early. Stay on the line until the operator says you can go.
- Not knowing your own address. Write it down, in the local format, on a card in your wallet.
- Forgetting the insurer. Many policies expect to be told quickly. Save their assistance number next to 192.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; verify with the official source before acting.
General information only, not financial, legal, tax, insurance, or medical advice. Prices, rules, and terms change; check current details with the provider or an official source.
