Page 15 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

Practical Information 13

Above left French fire engine Above right Signboard of the French gendarmerie, the military police force

give details of the nearest pharmacie on your mobile phone and camera. DIRECTORY
de garde; these will be open on Only carry as much cash as you
Sundays and at night. think you will need. Having said all
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
If you suffer from a medical that, in villages and small towns off
Australia
condition such as diabetes or epi- the beaten track in France, you are
4 rue Jean Ray, Paris, 75015; 01 40 59
lepsy, or have a serious allergy, an more likely to have someone run 33 00; www.france.embassy.gov.au
international medical ID bracelet or after you to give you back an item
United Kingdom
other alert can warn paramedics or you have dropped or mistak enly
35 rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, Paris,
hospital staff to your condition and left behind. 75008; 01 44 51 31 00; http://
provide a multilingual phone service Telephone or visit the police to ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en
that holds details of your condition. report a crime that takes place in a United States
If any condition requires you to carry town, missing persons or stolen 2 avenue Gabriel, Paris, 75008; 01 43
a syringe when travelling by air, ask property, robbery or assault. The 12 22 22; www.france.usembassy.gov
your doctor for a letter of notification commissariat de police is the police HEALTH
of your condition and keep it with headquarters. In a small town or Department of Health
your medical equipment. village, go to the town hall (mairie), www.dh.gov.uk
which will only be open during office
Personal Security hours, or the nearest gendarmerie. SAMU (ambulance)
15
Violent crime is not a major problem The Gendarmerie Nationale is the
in France. Take the same precautions part of the police body that deals Sapeurs Pompiers (fire and
ambulance)
that you would at home. If you are with all crimes outside urban areas. If
18 or 112
involved in an argument or accident, your passport is lost or stolen, call
avoid confrontation. In potentially your embassy or consulate. PERSONAL SECURITY
difficult situations you should stay Hunting with shotguns is an Police or Gendarmerie
calm, be polite and speak French if integral part of French rural life. If 17
you can; this may help to defuse you are walking in the countryside
the situation. during hunting season (August–
Beware of pickpockets in bustling February and especially Sunday)
town centres and, if leaving your car, dress in highly visible colours and Below far left Emergency heart defibrillator
put belongings in the boot. Keep make sure you avoid any place which kit Below left Pharmacy housed in a half-
valuables concealed and, if carrying has signs relating to la chasse – these timbered building Below middle Passport
a bag or case, never let it out of your indicate that the area concerned is and boarding pass Below right Fire hazard
sight. Keep an especially close eye being used for hunting. sign Below far right Soap on sale in St-Tropez