While Thailand is a safe country, accidents can still happen.
You might come across road accidents, fire, snake bites, or jellyfish stings, which are the most common emergencies in Thailand. These can also be fatal if not dealt with on time.
To help you prepare for this situation, this guide will show you what to do or who to call in the event of an emergency, and even how to prevent them from happening.
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Contents
Good to Know
- Make sure you have a Thai SIM card so that you can reach someone in the event of the emergency. If you call a Thai number using an international SIM card, the call might not go through.
- The tourist police (1155) can speak English. This should be your go-to number if you can’t speak Thai. But they can’t arrange an ambulance for you.
- Depending on where you live, the person who answers the call might not be able to speak English. If that’s the case, find the closest person who can speak Thai.
- While having insurance in Thailand won’t help prevent emergencies, it will save you money if you need treatment.
Medical Emergencies
Emergency Number: 1669 (Ambulance)
If you have a medical emergency, you can call 1669 for an ambulance. It’s free and it can take you to the nearest medical facility.
According to the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, here’s what you need to prepare before calling an ambulance:
- The details of incident and the condition of the injured person
- Estimated age of the patient or injured person
- Location details such as a street name or location
In addition to 1669, it’s also a good idea to store your neighbor’s phone number or the phone number of the juristic office (if you live in a gated community or a cond) or the village headman (if you live in a rural area).
On the other hand, if you come across a person who is seriously injured or sick, you should still call 1669 immediately.
You should also provide first aid if you’re a medical professional or have completed first aid training.
Note that 1669 is for medical emergencies only, such as loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, weakness in limbs, severe abdominal pain, emergency childbirth, heavy bleeding, electric shock, snake bites, or injuries from car accidents.
For general medical conditions, visit a nearby clinic or hospital.
Fire
Emergency Number: 199 (Fire Department)
Fire incidents are the most common incidents in Thailand. According to the Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, over 52 percent of Thailand disasters come from fires.
The National Statistical Office reported that fire incidents have occurred more than 1,000 times per year since 2016. And this number doesn’t include wildfires.
Squatters, short circuits, and cooking are the three most common causes of fires in Thailand.
If you encounter a fire, here’s what American Red Cross tells you to do:
- Get out, stay safe, and call an emergency number, which is 199 in Thailand.
- Alert other people in your area.
- Use stairs instead of elevators.
- If you need to escape the smoke, stay low.
- If you cannot escape for whatever reason, stay low, use a wet towel under the door to prevent the fire from coming in, call 199 or 191, and use your phone or flashlight to signal for help.
Also, if it’s still possible, you can:
- Use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
- Switch off breakers if the fire is due to a short circuit.
- Turn off the valve if the first is from cooking gas.
To prevent fires, there are a few things you should do:
- Always invest in good electrical devices, including plugs and cables. Many short circuits result from using low-grade devices.
- Always turn off gas valves on a gas tank after cooking. Also, if your tank is old, it’s better to buy a new one.
Road Accidents
Emergency Number: 191 (police), 1155 (tourist police), and 1669 (ambulance)
The Accident Data Center of Thailand reported that there were 486,855 injuries and 7,915 deaths from road accidents in 2023. Over 80 percent of these involved motorcycles.
So, if you live in Thailand, sooner or later you might have a road accident. If you do, there are some key things you should do:
- If there’s an injury or death, call 1669 for an ambulance.
- Don’t move a seriously injured person unless you are a medical professional.
- If you are injured, get out of the road if possible.
- Call your car insurance company.
- Don’t move your vehicle unless the police or insurance representative tell you to.
Read more: What to Do If You Have a Car Accident in Thailand
Snake Bites
Emergency Number: 1669 (ambulance), 199 (fire department)
Being a tropical country, Thailand is home to many venomous snakes including:
- Malayan Pit Viper
- Cobra
- King Cobra
- Kraits
- Green Pit Viper
These snakes are commonly found throughout Thailand, especially in rural areas. While the chances of being struck by one of these reptiles is low, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand reported that around 6,115 people are bitten by snakes in Thailand every year.
If it happens to you, here’s what you need to do:
- Assume all snakes are venomous.
- Do first-aid by washing the bite with soup and water and then covering it with a clean and dry dressing.
- Rush to a nearby hospital or call 1669 for an ambulance. Otherwise, you risk losing your limb or even life.
- While going to a hospital or waiting for an ambulance, lay or sit down in a comfortable position.
- If possible, take a picture of the snake from a safe distance. Or, if it was killed, bring the snake to the hospital.
Thailandsnakes.com has a list of common venomous snakes in Thailand. It’s a good idea to take a look at them and remember their appearance. But if you aren’t sure, always assume that it’s a venomous snake.
To help you identify the type of snake you come across, you can join the following groups:
- Snakes of Isaan: While this group caters to snakes in the Northeast (Isaan) of Thailand, members there can help you identify snakes no matter where in Thailand you live.
- All About Thailand Snakes: This group is mainly written in Thai, but some members can speak English. If you post a question about snakes in Thailand, you should get answers within minutes.
When posting a question about a snake in these groups, you should also name the location because it makes it easier to identify the snake.
If you spot a snake in your house, you can call the fire department at 199 and they will catch it.
Jellyfish Stings
Emergency Number: 1669 (ambulance)
While your chances of being bit by a jellyfish in Thailand are low, you often hear news stories about tourists getting stung by these sea creatures.
In fact, Thai PBS reported that three people were bitten by jellyfish in Phuket on June 26, 2024.
According to the Thailand Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, there were 10 deaths and 36 serious injuries in total from jellyfish stings from 1999 to 2021.
Still, venomous jellyfish, including box jellyfish, are commonly found in the southern part of Thailand. And they can cause skin burns and serious pain.
If you are bit by a jellyfish, here’s what you should do:
- Get out of the water immediately.
- Wash the bite with vinegar for at least 30 seconds.
- If there’s no vinegar, use salt water.
- DO NOT use fresh water, soft drinks, or sand on the wound because it can spread the poison even further.
- Go to a nearby clinic or hospital.
- If you need an ambulance, call 1669.
In addition, here are some safety precautions:
- Avoid going in the water if there are jellyfish warning signs or you spot many jellyfish.
- Wear protective clothes that cover all parts of your skin.
- Bring a bottle of vinegar with you to the beach.
Being Arrested
Emergency Number: Your embassy contact number
Unless you’re involved in illegal activity, have a fist fight, drive under the influence, or stay in Thailand illegally, you are unlikely to get arrested.
If it does happen to you, here’s what you should do:
- Contact your trusted friends or family to let them know what happened. They can also help you get in touch with your embassy or lawyer.
- Contact your embassy in Thailand.
- If you need a lawyer, contact one. You can ask your embassy for a list of lawyers.
Below is a list of many embassies in Thailand and their phone numbers:
- Australia: +66 23446300 (pick option ‘1’)
- Austria: +43 5011504411
- Canada: +1 6139968885
- Germany: +66 818456224
- India: +66 618819218
- Norway: +47 23950000
- United Kingdom: +66 23058333
- United States: +66 22054000
- Singapore: +66 818443580
- Switzerland: +66 818224921
Read more: An In-Depth Guide to Hiring a Lawyer in Thailand.
Report a Crime
If you want to report a crime in Thailand, you can call either 191 (police) or 1155 (tourist police).
Important Emergency Phone Numbers
Here’s a list of all the important emergency numbers you need in Thailand. It’s a great idea to save these on your phone so that you have quick access to them in the event of an emergency.
- 191 (police): Report a crime, road accident, and all other emergencies.
- 1155 (tourist police): Similar to 191 but they can speak English. They might also be able to arrange an ambulance.
- 199 (fire department): Report a fire or stray animal in the home.
- 1669 (ambulance): Free to use for emergencies. They will take you to the nearest hospital.
Your embassy: Important to contact, especially if you’re arrested in Thailand.
