Wikimecum:Health
HEALTH & EMERGENCIES
In this chapter, you will find information about what to do and where to go in case of health problems or emergencies.
SERIOUS EMERGENCY
For major emergencies, call for an ambulance and be ready to provide your address. Knock on neighbors' doors and get immediate attention from anyone around who can see the situation and help you get help in Italian. Call the advisors at the first opportunity. The Medical Emergency number is 118, but you may also dial 113 for any sort of emergency. In case of Fire dial 115.
Here is a short script with some useful key words and sentences:
"PRONTO. C'È UN ... (Hello, there is a(n)...)
- Incidente (Accident),
- Incendio (Fire),
- Ferito (Wounded),
- Ferito Grave (Serious Wound),
- Ammalato (Sick person)
IN Cannaregio 4567 (say your address here: this is a fictitious address!) VICINO A (near to) Campo San Felice (name a major landmark nearby)
MANDATE UN (send a(n)...)
- Ambulanza (Ambulance),
- Autopompa (Fire Truck/Boat),
- Dottore (Doctor)
IMMEDIATAMENTE. È UN'EMERGENZA (immediately, it’s an emergency) !!!".
- Knock on neighbors' doors and get immediate attention from anyone around who can see the situation and help you get help in Italian.
- Call the advisors at the first opportunity.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
In case of emergency, take immediate action and call one of the following numbers for urgent assistance. As soon as feasible, call Prof. Carrera and the other WPI advisor. The "Emergency Services for Foreigners" number is particularly useful, if one cannot speak Italian. While a lot of services may have bilingual (Italian and English) staffers, one cannot count on everyone to speak English. Print out this page and post it in a prominent place in your apartment.
| Emergency Contact | Phone |
|---|---|
| Prof. Fabio Carrera | home: 041 528-7939 |
| cell: 335 581-5292 | |
| Barbara Carrera | home: 041 520-1834 |
| cellular: 335 530-9271 | |
| Prof. Davis | cell: 348 523-0583 |
| URP Public relations office (information) | 041 529-4588 |
| Police, Emergency | 113 |
| SUEM (Emergency Medical Service) | 118 |
| Carabinieri (State Police) | 112 |
| Fire Station (Vigili del Fuoco) | 115 |
| Boat-Ambulance Service | 041 523-0000 |
| Emergency Room (pronto soccorso) VENICE | 041 529-4516 |
| Injections service (10-12 Mo-Fri) for injections | 041 529-4918 |
| Guardia Medica - Weekends and Nights | 041 529-4060 |
| Guardia Medica (Lido)-Weekends and Nights | 041 526-7743 |
See maps on later pages for some key emergency locations.
Illness
In case of illness, please notify the advisors immediately. In case of the flu or the like, over-the-counter medicine can be purchased at local pharmacies. VPC staff can help procure the necessary pharmaceuticals. In case a prescription is needed, you will have to be visited by a doctor who will prescribe the medicines, which will also be purchased at a pharmacy.
"Guardia Medica"
If you need to be visited by a doctor during non-business hours (8pm-8am) or on weekends (2pm on Friday to 8am on Monday), there is always a doctor on duty called the guardia medica. To reach the doctor, call (041) 529-4060. Usually the Guardia Medica will come to your apartment for a house call.
Pharmacies
In Italy, pharmacies are regulated in such a way to be evenly distributed in the city. No matter where you live, there will be a pharmacy nearby. Hours are posted outside each pharmacy. In general, pharmacies are open from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm on weekdays.
"Farmacia di Turno"
Every night and every weekend, there are several Farmacia di turno whose turn it is to stay open for emergencies from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. and all day and night on weekends. Find the current Farmacia di Turno nearest you at http://www.farmavenezia.it/pubblica/farmacie_di_turno/12_venezia.htm. You can also find out which pharmacy is open by going to the nearest one and looking at the sign posted outside that will say "FARMACIE di TURNO: ...." followed by the name and address of the those whose turn it is to be open. Schedules can also be found in the local daily newspapers.
Hospitals
Venice has two main hospitals, the Ospedale Civile in Venice and Ospedale al Mare on the Lido. The former is the more important of the two. Each hospital has an emergency room, Pronto Soccorso. If you need emergency care and can move on your own, make your way to the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital in Venice or on the Lido.
Emergency Room ("Pronto Soccorso")
If you need emergency care and can move on your own, make your way to the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital in Venice or on the Lido. See maps for directions.
Psychologist
Dr. Giuliana Grando - Dorsoduro 3650 - Venice - tel 041723164 - fax 0415229548 (speaks English).
Dentist
Dr. Alvise Lucerna - Cannaregio 4001/B - Venice - tel 041 5221717 (near VPC - speaks "some" english)