Page 622 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain
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620 SUR VIV AL GUIDE
Personal Security and Health your purse or handbag on the
tabletop in a café. Take particular
As in most European countries, it is sensible to be vigilant care at markets, tourist sights
and particularly in cities. The country is generally safe, but and stations. Be especially
certain parts are subject to petty crime so follow the usual careful of pickpockets when
advice. Carry cards and money in a belt, and never leave any getting on or off a crowded
train or metro.
thing visible in your car. Taking out medical insurance cover The moment you discover a
is advisable, but pharmacists are good sources of assistance loss or theft, report it to the local
for minor health problems. If you lose your documents, police station. To claim insurance
contact the local police first to make a claim, then your con you must do this immediately,
sulate. Emergency phone numbers vary (see box opposite). since many companies give
you only 24 hours. Ask for a
denuncia (written statement),
which you need to make a
Spanish Police
you to the relevant authority in claim. If your passport is stolen,
There are three types of police the event of an incident or if you lose it, report it to
in Spain. The Guardia Civil requiring police help. your consulate, too.
(National Guard) police mainly While tourists remain targets
rural areas. Their uniform is Personal Security and for petty crime in Spanish
olive green, but there are local cities, remember that it is
and regional variations. They Property common for Spanish people
impose fines for traffic offences Violent crime is rare in Spain, but to approach you and strike
outside the cities and police visitors should avoid walking up a conversation, and you
the borders. alone in poorly lit areas. Wear should not let normal
The Policía Nacional, who bags and cameras across your precautions stop you from
mainly wear a blue uniform, body, not on your shoulder. interacting with the locals.
operate in towns with a popu Holiday insurance is there to Men occasionally make
lation of more than 30,000. protect you financially from the complimentary remarks
They have been replaced with loss or theft of your property, (piropos) to women in public,
a regional force, the Ertzaintza, but it is always best to take particularly in the street. This
in the Basque Country, and obvious precautions. is an old custom and is not
with the Mossos d’Esquadra in intended to be intimidating.
Catalonia. These can be recog What to Be Aware Of
nized by their respective red
and blue berets. Be aware of street scams in large
The Policía Local, also called cities, including unexpected
Policía Municipal or Guardia offers to help with bags, to
Urbana, dress in blue. They clean stains off your clothes or Sign identifying a Cruz Roja (Red Cross)
oper ate independently in each to participate in impromptu emergency treatment centre
town and also have a separate football games. Never leave a
branch for city traffic control. bag or handbag unattended In an Emergency
All three services will direct anywhere, and do not place The nationwide number to use
in case of an emergency (police,
ambulance, fire) is 112. Local
emergency numbers are listed
in telephone directories under
Servicios de Urgencia; they appear
on tourist maps and leaflets, too.
For emergency medical
treatment, call the emergency
services or an ambulance, or go
straight to the nearest hospital
casualty department (Urgencias).
Visit www.jointcommission.
org for a list of hospitals
vetted by the USbased NGO
Joint Commission.
Pharmacies
Spanish pharmacists have wide
responsibilities. They can advise
Guardia Civil Policía Nacional Policía Local and, in some cases, prescribe
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