Page 240 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

238  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Personal Security and Health The addresses and telephone
numbers of pharmacies open at
In Spain, as in most European countries, rural areas are night are listed in the windows
generally safe, but certain parts of cities are subject to petty of all the local pharmacies.
crime. Carry cards and money in a belt and never leave If you need a pharmacy on
anything visible in your car when you park it. Taking out a Sunday, look for farmacías
de guardia. Do not confuse
medical insurance cover is advisable, but for minor health pharmacies with perfumerías,
problems pharmacists are a good source of assistance. which sell toiletries only.
Northern Spain is well supplied with pharma cies, which are
easy to find with their green or red neon signs. Emergency Personal Security
phone numbers vary – the most important ones are on the Violent crime is rare in Spain
opposite page. If you lose your documents, contact your but visitors should avoid
consulate or the local police. walking alone in poorly lit
areas. Men occasionally make
complimentary remarks (piropos)
medical insurance to cover the to women in public, particularly
cost of, for instance, medication, in the street. This is an old
home visits by a doctor, custom and not intended
repatriation or an extended to be intimidating.
hospital stay. Note that in private To protect yourself against
hospitals you have to pay theft, be sure to keep your
unless you have private credit cards, money
insurance. Visitors and documents well
coming to Spain from hidden and close to
non-EU countries your body. Wear a
should arrange cover bag or camera strap
through a private across your body, not
insurance company. on your shoulder.
A Spanish pharmacy sign When visiting a
The beautiful interior of a traditional Pharmacies café, restaurant or
pharmacy in A Coruña bar, keep your handbag on your
Spanish pharmacists knees – never leave it on the
In an Emergency (farmacéuticos) are well trained tabletop or the chair opposite.
In an emergency call 112 for and have wide responsibilities.
the police, an ambulance or the They can advise and, in some
fire brigade. You can also call cases, prescribe medication Police
the national police on 091; the without consulting a doctor. There are three types of police
fire brigade on 080 (in main In a non-emergency a in Spain. The Guardia Civil
cities); and the ambulance pharmacist is a good person (national guard) are in charge
service on 061. to see first. It is easy to find of policing rural areas, and
In a medical emergency one who speaks English. their responsibilities include
for which an ambulance is The farmacía sign is a green enforcing traffic restrictions
not required you can go to or red illuminated cross. on main highways.
the hospital casualty
department (Urgencias).
Medical Treatment
All EU nationals are entitled to
Spanish social security cover.
To claim, you must obtain the
European Health Insurance Card
from the UK Department of
Health or from a post office
before you travel. It comes with
a booklet, Health Advice for
Travellers, which explains exactly
what health care you are entitled
to and where and how to claim.
Not all treatments are covered
by the card and some are costly,
so it is worth arranging separate Guardia Civil Policía Nacional Policía Local

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