Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

202  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Personal Security and Health small amount of alcohol can
result in the suspension of your
On the whole, Sardinia is a safe place for visitors and only licence. Parking is generally safe
a few precautions are needed for a pleasant stay. Beware of and car theft is rare, but cars do
pickpockets in the busy passenger terminals of the ports and get broken into, so always bring
in cities. Do not leave valuables in your car if the parking place your valuables along, especially
laptops, jewellery and passports.
is unsupervised. In general, rural areas are safer than cities. If you have possessions or
During the summer, forest fires are a serious problem, so make luggage in the car boot, it is
sure you know the local police or firemen instructions should advisable not to open the tailgate
an emergency arise. in a crowded place before leaving
the car unattended.
Police
In an Emergency
There are many different police
forces in Italy. The state police, For immediate medical attention,
polizia, wear blue uniforms and contact the First Aid (Pronto
deal with criminal offences Soccorso) department of a main
and issue passports to Italian hospital such as Giovanni Paolo II
citizens. The military police or in Olbia or San Giovanni di Dio
carabinieri wear red-striped in Cagliari. Alternatively, check
trousers and manage offences the phone directories for a
ranging from theft to speeding. doctor (dottore) or a dentist
The vigili urbani, or municipal (dentista). Emergency care
police, wear blue uniforms in in public hospitals is free for all,
winter and white in summer, and including foreigners.
issue fines for traffic and parking Fire, a constant danger, spreading rapidly
offences. They can be spotted across the dry, scrubby vegetation Lost and Stolen Property
patrolling the streets and
regulating traffic. Their work may snatchers who operate in quiet In major cities, airport terminals,
overlap with the polizia stradale’s streets of bigger cities, such as and bus and train stations
job; this section of the polizia is Sassari, Olbia and Cagliari. Take usually have their own lost
responsible for traffic violations, proper care of your belongings property offices. In small towns,
mainly in state roads, but also in a busy market place and on enquire at the ticket offices or
issues fines inside the cities. The public transport. at the nearest police station.
guardia di finanza, or tax police, It is advisable to stay away from To report stolen or lost items,
wear grey uniforms and deal with unauthorised taxi drivers operating head to the nearest questura
tax evasion, customs and drugs. at airports and train stations (police station) or carabinieri
Crimes should be reported to as they frequently overcharge. office. In the case of lost
the police or at a carabinieri office, Generally, travelling on Sardinian passports, contact your
where you will get a signed form roads poses few problems; embassy or consulate; for lost
required to claim insurance. If your however, you may be stopped credit cards, contact the bank
car has been towed away, request at a posto di blocco (police or or the issuing company’s office.
the help of the vigili urbani. army road block). Roadblocks are
routine and should be no cause
for alarm. Officers usually check Hospitals and
What to be Aware of your ID and the vehicle, and they Pharmacies
Try not to carry large amounts may also search your car and test In tourist areas, the Guardia
of cash when travelling. your alcohol level. Drinking and Medica (emergency treatment
Visitors should be wary of bag driving is forbidden and even a centre) gives medical attention to
summer visitors. These seasonal
surgeries are often closed in low
season, so in this case you will
have to go to a hospital instead.
Sardinia has a good network
of hospitals and casualty
departments (pronto soccorso).
EU nationals are entitled to
Italian medical care, but you
need to carry an EHIC card, while
emergency care is free for all.
For minor problems, pharmacists
can recommend over-the-
Policemen on horseback at the Poetto beach near Cagliari counter medication.

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