Just Speak – Day 25(Reporting a Medical Emergency in German: Essential Phrases and Tips)

In a medical emergency, knowing how to communicate quickly and clearly can make all the difference. This article will provide you with essential German phrases, vocabulary, and tips to effectively report an emergency and get help.

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1. Emergency Numbers in Germany

Make sure you know these critical numbers:

• 112: General emergency number for ambulance and fire brigade (free and works across the EU).
• 110: Police emergency number.

💡 Tip: Dial 112 for medical emergencies, and the dispatcher will connect you to the appropriate service.

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2. Key Phrases for Reporting an Emergency

When calling 112, be ready to describe the situation. Use the following structure:

1. Wer? (Who?): Mein Name ist [Ihr Name]. (My name is [Your Name].)
2. Was? (What?): Es gibt einen medizinischen Notfall. (There is a medical emergency.)
3. Wo? (Where?): Wir sind in [Adresse]. (We are at [address].)
4. Wie? (How?): Eine Person ist verletzt/bewusstlos/schwer krank. (A person is injured/unconscious/severely ill.)

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3. Describing the Emergency

Be specific about what has happened. Here are some examples:

• Jemand hat starke Schmerzen. (Someone has severe pain.)
• Die Person ist bewusstlos. (The person is unconscious.)
• Es gab einen Unfall. (There was an accident.)
• Er/Sie hat Schwierigkeiten zu atmen. (He/She has difficulty breathing.)
• Es blutet stark. (There is heavy bleeding.)

💡 Tip: Speak slowly and clearly, even if you’re panicking.

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4. Answering Dispatcher Questions

The dispatcher may ask follow-up questions. Be prepared for:

• Wie alt ist die Person? (How old is the person?)
  Example: Er/Sie ist [Alter] Jahre alt. (He/She is [age] years old.)
• Ist die Person bei Bewusstsein? (Is the person conscious?)
  Example: Nein, die Person ist bewusstlos. (No, the person is unconscious.)
• Atmet die Person? (Is the person breathing?)
  Example: Ja/Nein, er/sie atmet nicht. (Yes/No, he/she is not breathing.)

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5. Requesting an Ambulance

If you need an ambulance, clearly state this:

• Wir brauchen einen Krankenwagen. (We need an ambulance.)
• Bitte schicken Sie sofort Hilfe. (Please send help immediately.)
• Es handelt sich um einen Notfall. (It is an emergency.)

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6. Guiding Emergency Responders

When the emergency team arrives, provide them with any additional details:

• Die Person ist hier. (The person is here.)
• Er/Sie hat Schmerzen im [Körperteil]. (He/She has pain in the [body part].)
• Er/Sie hat Allergien gegen [Substanz]. (He/She is allergic to [substance].)
• Er/Sie nimmt folgende Medikamente: [Medikamente]. (He/She is taking the following medications: [medications].)

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7. Example Dialogue: Calling 112

You: Guten Tag, mein Name ist Anna Müller. Ich melde einen Notfall.
(Good day, my name is Anna Müller. I am reporting an emergency.)

Dispatcher: Was ist passiert?
(What happened?)

You: Eine Person ist bewusstlos und atmet nicht.
(A person is unconscious and not breathing.)

Dispatcher: Wo sind Sie?
(Where are you?)

You: Wir sind in der Hauptstraße 12 in Berlin.
(We are at Hauptstraße 12 in Berlin.)

Dispatcher: Wir schicken sofort einen Krankenwagen. Bleiben Sie bitte am Telefon.
(We are sending an ambulance immediately. Please stay on the phone.)

You: Vielen Dank!
(Thank you!)

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8. 10 Sentences to Practice

1. Mein Name ist [Name]. Ich melde einen Notfall. (My name is [Name]. I am reporting an emergency.)
2. Wir brauchen einen Krankenwagen. (We need an ambulance.)
3. Eine Person ist bewusstlos. (A person is unconscious.)
4. Es gab einen Unfall. (There was an accident.)
5. Die Person hat starke Schmerzen. (The person has severe pain.)
6. Er/Sie hat Schwierigkeiten zu atmen. (He/She has difficulty breathing.)
7. Wir sind in der Hauptstraße 12. (We are at Hauptstraße 12.)
8. Die Person ist [Alter] Jahre alt. (The person is [age] years old.)
9. Bitte schicken Sie sofort Hilfe. (Please send help immediately.)
10. Er/Sie hat keine Allergien. (He/She has no allergies.)

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Vocabulary Booster

German Word	Type	English Translation
der Notfall	Noun	Emergency
der Krankenwagen	Noun	Ambulance
die Schmerzen	Noun (Pl.)	Pain
bewusstlos	Adjective	Unconscious
atmen	Verb	To breathe
der Unfall	Noun	Accident
die Allergie	Noun	Allergy
die Medikamente	Noun (Pl.)	Medications
schwer	Adjective	Severe/Heavy
bluten	Verb	To bleed
das Krankenhaus	Noun	Hospital
die Hilfe	Noun	Help
melden	Verb	To report
die Adresse	Noun	Address
schicken	Verb	To send
der Dispatcher	Noun	Dispatcher
sofort	Adverb	Immediately
der Körperteil	Noun	Body part
die Straße	Noun	Street
die Bewusstlosigkeit	Noun	Unconsciousness

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Final Thoughts

Knowing how to report a medical emergency in German can save lives. Practice these phrases, memorize the emergency numbers, and stay calm if you ever face such a situation. Clear communication is critical, so focus on describing the situation and answering questions as best as you can.

Let me know if you’d like help with another topic or scenario! 😊