Page 621 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  619

Women Travellers Pharmacies
Women travelling on their own Various medical products,
in Italy are likely to meet with a including homeopathic
lot of attention. This is often more medicines, are available in any
of an irritation than a danger, pharmacy (farmacia), but a
but it is best to keep away from prescription is often required.
lonely, unlit streets and areas Qualified staff will offer advice
near railway stations at night, for minor ailments and common
and to carry an alarm or whistle illnesses and provide appropriate
and be equipped with the medicines. Thanks to a night rota
telephone numbers of your (servizio notturno), there is always
hotel and a local taxi service. a pharmacy open in all cities
Walking quickly and purposefully and most towns. Those that are
is a good way to avoid any open at night are listed in the
unwanted attention. The staff at Outside a Florentine pharmacy with local pages of daily newspapers
hotels and restaurants generally a green cross sign and on all pharmacy doors.
treat their single female guests Pharmacies also sell toiletries
and customers with extra care Medical Treatment and beauty items. Common
and attention. non-prescription pharmaceutical
Emergency medical care in Italy products such as aspirin are also
is free for all EU and Australian sold at lower prices in many
The Police
citizens, thanks to reciprocal large supermarkets.
There are several different police agreements. The EHIC European
forces in Italy and each one Health Insurance Card, which is DIRECTORY
fulfils a particular role. The State available from the UK
police, la polizia, wear blue Department of Health offices, Embassies and
uniforms and drive blue cars. website or from a main post Consulates
They deal with most crimes. office, covers emergencies only; Australia
The carabinieri are militarily private medical insurance is
trained and wear dark blue needed for all other types of Via A. Bosio 5, Rome. Tel 06 85 27
21. ∑ italy.embassy.gov.au
and black treatment. The card comes
uniforms with red with a booklet that contains Canada
striped trousers. general health advice and Via Zara 30, Rome.
These officers deal information about how to Tel 06 85 44 41.
with a variety of claim free medical ∑ canadainternational.gc.ca
offences from treatment when travelling United Kingdom
organized crime abroad. You may find you Via XX Settembre 80a, Rome.
to speeding and have to pay and reclaim the Map 4 D2. Tel 06 42 20 00 01.
can also conduct money later. Australians ∑ ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk
random security need to apply to Medicare.
checks. Non-EU citizens should United States
The guardia di try to arrive in Italy with Via Veneto 119a, Rome.
finanza are the comprehensive private Map 3 C1. Tel 06 467 41.
financial police medical insurance to cover ∑ italy.usembassy.gov
force (the fraud all eventualities. If you do
squad), and wear need emergency treatment, Emergency Numbers
grey uniforms go to the Pronto Soccorso
with yellow (Casualty Department) of General Emergency
Tel 113.
striped trousers. the nearest hospital.
The vigili urbani, or If necessary, you will be Fire Service
the municipal referred to the appropriate Tel 115.
traffic police, wear specialist or department Medical Emergencies
blue and white Municipal policeman within the same structure. Tel 118.
uniforms in winter As an alternative, ask your
and white during the summer. hotel to call the night doctor – Police (Carabinieri)
Even though they are not guardia medica – who can be Tel 112.
official police officers, the vigili consulted on the phone.
urbani can issue heavy fines for No inoculations are needed Medical Treatment
traffic and parking offences. for Italy, but mosquito repellent
They can usually be spotted is advisable in summer. Medicare Australia
∑ medicareaustralia.gov.au
patrolling the streets, enforcing Repellent creams and sprays are
laws or directing traffic. Officers found in pharmacies, as are UK Department of Health
from any of the forces will be electrical repellers which burn ∑ dh.gov.uk
able to help in an emergency. pellets to deter the bugs.

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