Page 205 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  203

Pharmacies (farmacie) are trained to chase away any
open from Monday to Friday, potential intruders.
9am–1pm and 4–7pm and While walking or trekking
Saturday morning. Lists of the in the countryside you may
night and holiday opening rotas come across gates or fences
for the local area are posted on barring your way. If possible,
the chemist’s door. ask whether you can go
through. Having done so,
remember to close the gate
Travel and Health so that animals are unable to
Insurance escape. If you plan a lengthy
EU visitors should obtain the hike, make sure you carry
European Health Insurance Livestock often graze on fields enough water with you, as
Card (EHIC) before travelling. near camp sites villages may be few and far
This is available online (www. between. Lastly, there are no
dh.gov.uk) or at a post office. or to clear space for new poisonous snakes on the island.
The card comes with a booklet buildings. In an attempt to halt
of advice and information on the practice, a law has been DIRECTORY
the procedure for claiming passed prohibiting construction
free medical treatment. in areas destroyed by fire, but Police
When booking air travel even this has not stopped Carabinieri
tickets, it is best to inquire arsonists. In the dry heat of Tel 112
whether there are waivers summer, fire spreads rapidly in
pertaining to any medical the undergrowth of the maquis, General Emergencies
emergencies. It can be difficult and the main enemy of the (Polizia di Stato)
to arrange travel insurance firemen is the wind, which is Tel 113.
once you reach Sardinia, so capable of carrying the fire a In an Emergency
it is always advisable to long way in a very short time.
purchase it before you travel. Fire-fighting is carried out by the Directory Enquiries
local fire brigades as well as the Tel 89 24 24.
state forest rangers, volunteers
Fire Hazards Medical Emergencies
and specially equipped fire- Tel 118.
Unfortunately, forest fires are fighting planes positioned in
a real problem in Sardinia, key areas of the island. Mountain Emergencies
especially in the summer. Except (Soccorso Alpino)
for the rare cases of accidental Minor Hazards Tel 118 (ask for Soccorso Alpino).
fire that may be caused by a Nautical Information
thrown-away cigarette, most In the summer, whether you Tel 196.
fires on the island are started are on the beach or inland, Road Emergencies
deliberately. In some instances be wary of too much sun, (Soccorso Stradale)
forest and brush are destroyed as it may cause serious burns Tel 116.
to make way for more grazing and sunstroke. If it is windy,
you may not be aware you Sea Emergencies
are burning. Tel 1530
Fire Prevention Rules
If a storm breaks and you need Hospitals and
1. Always take care to to take shelter, do not head for Pharmacies
extinguish cigarettes before isolated trees or rocky peaks,
discarding them. which may attract lightning. Cagliari
2. Never light a fire except Although you cannot simply San Giovanni di Dio
in areas where this is camp wherever you like, you Via Ospedale 86.
explicitly permitted. can make private arrangements Tel 070 6091
3. If you see a fire, you must with landowners to pitch your Olbia
report it to the local firemen. tent away from official camp
4. Do not stop or park your sites. Make sure you take away Giovanni Paolo II
Via Bazzoni - Sircana, Olbia
car to watch a fire; you all your rubbish and do not Tel 0789 552200
may block the roads
and interfere with fire- light fires. Fire Hazards
fighting operations. Bear in mind that grazing in
5. Pay attention to the wind the open countryside is still Fire Department (Vigili
direction – it is highly quite common in Sardinia; pigs, del Fuoco)
dangerous to be down- sheep, cows and horses may Tel 115.
wind of a fire, as it may well decide to see whether
spread quite rapidly and campers have anything good Forest Fires
catch you unawares. to eat in their tents. Avoid Tel 1515
sheepdogs, as they are

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