One number to remember: 112. It works everywhere in Europe, from any phone, even without a local SIM card. Operators speak Spanish and English. For French, say "francés por favor", an interpreter is available in a few minutes. Save this sheet in your favorites before landing. We hope you'll never need it.
Dial 061 to request an ambulance. The two main public hospitals: Hospital Universitario de Canarias (HUC, in La Laguna, the largest) and Hospital del Sur (in Arona, near Los Cristianos). With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), emergency care is covered with no upfront costs. Without it, you'll be treated first and billed later, keep all receipts for reimbursement when you return home. For minor emergencies (fever, sprain, insect bite), centros de salud (health centers) help you avoid long waits at hospital emergency rooms. There's one in each municipality.
Pharmacies (farmacias) are everywhere and recognizable by their glowing green cross. Regular hours: 9am-8pm on weekdays, 10am-2pm on Saturday. Each area has a pharmacy on duty (farmacia de guardia) open at night and on Sundays, the address is posted on the door of all pharmacies in the neighborhood. Many medications sold by prescription in France are available over-the-counter here. Paracetamol and ibuprofen cost €2-3 per box.