What to do in an emergency while camping in Türkiye
In Türkiye one number, 112, covers ambulance, police, gendarmerie, fire brigade, forest fires and the coast guard. For foreign campers: when to call 112, how to find the on-duty pharmacy, hospitals and insurance, ticks, jellyfish, heatstroke and earthquakes.
Teknovan Editorial Team ·
In Türkiye, 112 is the number to call in any emergency. Ambulance, police, gendarmerie, fire brigade, forest fires and the coast guard used to have separate numbers; the Ministry of the Interior merged them into the 112 Emergency Call Centre. The call is free, the line is open 24/7 and the centre puts you through to the right service. For health problems that aren't emergencies, your first stop is a pharmacy or the outpatient clinics of the nearest hospital.
This post is for foreign visitors coming to Türkiye on a camping or campervan holiday. The information is correct as of writing (November 2026); official sources are at the end.
When to call 112
Call without waiting if there is:
- Loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, chest pain, heavy bleeding, a suspected fracture.
- A traffic accident, a risk of drowning, someone missing at sea.
- Smoke or fire (reporting a forest fire is also 112).
- Theft, assault or threats.
- Confusion from heatstroke, or a sudden turn for the worse after a tick or snake bite.
When you call 112, speak calmly and say: what happened, how many people are affected, where you are. Location is the hardest part. Give the name of the campsite, the village, a nearby sign; you can read out the coordinates from your map app. According to Ministry of the Interior officials, 112 centres can also take calls in English, German, Russian and Arabic; still, if a Turkish speaker can help, hand them the phone. When you arrive at the campsite, ask at reception who to alert in an emergency and where the assembly point is.
The flow below sums up where to go in which situation.
How to find the on-duty pharmacy
In Türkiye a pharmacy (eczane) is easy to spot by its sign with a red "E". Pharmacists give advice for minor ailments; many medicines, such as antibiotics, are sold on prescription. If you take a medicine regularly at home, write down the active ingredient; the brand name may be different in Türkiye.
At night, on Sundays and on public holidays one pharmacy in each area stays open in rotation; this is the on-duty pharmacy (nöbetçi eczane). There are three ways to find it:
- Look in any pharmacy window. Closed pharmacies display the name and address of that night's on-duty pharmacy in the window.
- The "TİTCK Nöbetçi Eczane Sorgulama" service on e-Devlet. Choose a province and it lists on-duty pharmacies with addresses and a map.
- The website of the provincial chamber of pharmacists, or search "nöbetçi eczane" in your map app.
Hospitals, costs and travel insurance
In Türkiye the emergency departments of state and private hospitals are open 24/7. In an emergency it doesn't matter which hospital you go to; go to the nearest one or follow 112's directions.
| State hospital | Private hospital | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency department | Yes, 24/7 | Yes, 24/7 |
| Cost for foreign visitors | Charged without Turkish social security | Charged, usually higher |
| Waiting | Can be busy | Usually short |
| Foreign languages | Varies | Many have an international patient desk |
| Insurance | Ask whether your insurance is accepted | Many work directly with travel insurers |
Travel health insurance is the most useful document you'll have in Türkiye. Things to check:
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in Türkiye; it is used in EU and EEA countries and Switzerland. The UK's GHIC does not cover Türkiye either.
- Make sure Türkiye is listed in your policy's area of cover. In some policies "Europe" does not include Türkiye.
- Check whether medical evacuation and activities such as camping, hiking and water sports are covered.
- Save your insurer's 24/7 assistance number in your phone. Calling before you go to hospital can mean they pay the hospital directly (direct billing).
Some countries have a bilateral social security agreement with Türkiye; ask your own insurer how it can be used in Türkiye.
Common health problems while camping
Ticks. Check your body after walking in woods and meadows. The Ministry of Health advises removing an attached tick not with bare hands but with gloves or tweezers, without crushing it, and then seeing a health facility. If you get a fever, fatigue or nausea in the following 10 days, see a doctor and mention the tick bite. Prevention tips are in our post on camping rules in the summer heat.
Jellyfish. On the Mediterranean coast jellyfish can appear in some summer weeks. If you are stung, get out of the water, rinse the area with seawater without rubbing, and lift off any stuck pieces with a card or gloves, not your hands. If there is shortness of breath, widespread redness or swelling, call 112.
Sunstroke and heatstroke. Stay in the shade around midday and drink water before you feel thirsty. For headache, nausea and weakness, move somewhere cool, drink water and cool down with a wet cloth. Confusion, no longer sweating or fainting is an emergency; call 112.
Dog or cat bites. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and see a health facility the same day. A doctor will decide whether you need a rabies vaccine.
Forest fires and earthquakes
Forest fire. If you see smoke, call 112, give your location and the direction of the smoke, and move away towards the wind and open ground. Detailed escape rules are in our post on camping rules in the summer heat.
Earthquake. Türkiye is an earthquake zone. Being outdoors at a campsite is an advantage: stand in an open spot away from trees, poles, power lines and slopes. If you're inside the campervan, stay inside and protect your head until the shaking stops. AFAD's "AFAD Acil Çağrı" app helps send your location to 112, but registration may ask for a Turkish ID number; for foreign visitors the surest way is to call 112 directly. You can find post-disaster assembly areas through e-Devlet and AFAD announcements.
To make sure your phone works in Türkiye and can call 112, see our phone, internet and SIM card guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which number do I call for an ambulance in Türkiye?
- Police, gendarmerie, fire brigade, forest fires and the coast guard are on the same number.
Where is a pharmacy open at night?
At the on-duty pharmacy. Check the list in the window of a closed pharmacy, the TİTCK search on e-Devlet or the website of the provincial chamber of pharmacists.
Can I go to a state hospital as a foreigner?
Yes, emergency departments are open to everyone. Treatment is charged for visitors without Turkish social security; keep your travel insurance with you.
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Türkiye?
No. The EHIC and the UK's GHIC are not valid in Türkiye. Take out travel health insurance that covers Türkiye.
Sources
- Ministry of the Interior, switch to the single emergency number 112, Milliyet
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye
- Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, on-duty pharmacy search, e-Devlet
- AFAD, disaster and emergency information
- AFAD Acil Çağrı mobile app, NTV
- European Health Insurance Card, European Commission
Image credits
Photos illustrate the region; they are not photos of the campsites themselves.
- Konyaaltı Plajı: FingerWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
