If you are visiting or living in Norway, knowing how to reach help fast can make all the difference. Our emergency system is simple, robust, and English friendly, and it works well even out in the fjords, mountains, and long road tunnels. As someone who grew up here and has guided travelers for years, I’ll walk you through exactly what to do, what to say, and the local tips Norwegians rely on.
The short version: Norway uses three main emergency numbers. 110 for fire, 112 for police, and 113 for medical emergencies and ambulances. If in doubt, call 112 or 113 and the operator will route you correctly. Operators speak English, and your mobile will connect even without normal coverage if a network is available for emergency calls.
Let’s take a deeper look at how to use these numbers with confidence, plus a few insider tools that make help arrive faster.
Norway’s Three Emergency Numbers
Norway runs separate, short emergency numbers. You do not need an area code, and they work from any Norwegian phone and most foreign phones on roaming.
- 110 Fire: fires, smoke, gas leaks, alarms in buildings, wildfire, chimney fires, and storm damage that creates an immediate hazard.
- 112 Police: crimes in progress, threats to life, serious traffic collisions, missing persons, and urgent safety issues.
- 113 Medical: life-threatening illness or injury, difficulty breathing, chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, serious accidents, unconsciousness, hypothermia.
If you are unsure which number fits, call 112 or 113. The operator will triage and coordinate the right response. Using the correct line helps, but do not lose time hesitating.
What To Say When You Call
Keep it crisp. You will be asked a few standard questions:
- What happened. One sentence is enough to start: “Cyclist hit by a car,” “House fire with smoke,” “Hiker unconscious.”
- Where you are. Give a street address if you have it. If not, name the nearest town, road number, tunnel name, trail, ferry quay, or landmark. Road numbers like E6, E16, and county roads are very helpful.
- How many people are involved and their condition. Are they conscious, breathing, bleeding.
- Your callback number. In case the call drops.
Operators in Norway are used to speaking English. Talk slowly, avoid slang, and let them guide the questions. If the situation changes, say so. Stay on the line until told to hang up.
Help Them Find You: Location Tips That Work Here
Finding you quickly is half the job. Here is what helps most in Norway:
- Read road markers. Highways and many county roads show kilometer posts. Say “E16, kilometer 458, eastbound.”
- Know your tunnel. Long tunnels display the tunnel name at the entrance and have emergency lay-bys with phones and fire extinguishers at intervals. Use the orange SOS phone if mobile service is weak.
- Trail and cabin names. In hiking areas, name the trailhead, DNT cabin, lake, or pass you started from. Signs often list distances you can mention.
- Use your phone’s GPS. Share coordinates if you can find them in your map app. Most modern phones also send enhanced location automatically when you dial an emergency number, but giving a plain-language location is still wise.
- Hiker’s trick. Before you start a hike, take a screenshot of the offline map and note the route name. If something goes wrong, you can describe your plan precisely.
The Best Local Apps To Install
Norwegians love practical tools. These two are worth having:
- Hjelp 113: A free Norwegian app that shows your GPS coordinates clearly and can share them when you call 113. It is popular with hikers and skiers.
- Emergency functions on your phone: Set up your phone’s built-in emergency SOS, medical ID, and emergency contacts. In Norway, this works well and may transmit position data.
Install these before you need them. In winter or remote areas, this simple prep moves help minutes closer.
Calling From a Foreign SIM, Wi-Fi, or a Phone Without Service
- Roaming: If your foreign SIM is roaming, you can dial 110, 112, or 113 directly.
- No normal signal: Emergency calls can connect via any available network. Try anyway.
- Wi-Fi calling: If enabled on your phone and plan, it can place emergency calls when cellular is weak.
- SIM-less phones: Most phones allow emergency calls without a SIM. If you find a phone in an emergency, try it.
- Foreign emergency numbers: Some visitors report that 911 routes to 112 from mobiles. Do not rely on this. Always learn and use 110, 112, or 113 in Norway.
If You Cannot Speak: Text, Relay, And Accessibility
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, Norway provides text-based emergency access. The service is designed to reach police, fire, and medical teams. If you rely on text emergency, set it up before you travel and keep your details current. You can also use the SOS phones in tunnels, which trigger an immediate voice-free alarm to operators.
If you are with someone who cannot speak, call on their behalf. Stay with them if it is safe and be their voice.
Emergencies In The Mountains, Fjords, And At Sea
Nature is big here. A few Norway-specific notes:
- Mountains and ski touring: In avalanche or severe weather situations, call 113 first. Mountain rescue is coordinated through medical dispatch. Give your group size, planned route, equipment, avalanche training if any, and whether you have a transceiver, shovel, and probe.
- On the water: For life-threatening situations, call 112 or 113. If you have a marine VHF radio, issue a Mayday on Channel 16 and provide your position. Wearing lifejackets is both law in many cases and common sense in cold water.
- Ferries and fast boats: Follow crew instructions and use shipboard alarms. The crew will contact rescue services fast, but you can still call if you witness a medical emergency.
- Wildfire and summer drought: If you spot smoke in forest or heath, call 110 immediately and describe the location with the nearest road or trail.
Non-Emergency Numbers Every Visitor Should Save
Norway separates emergencies from urgent but not life-threatening needs. These help keep the lines clear for true emergencies while still getting you care:
- 116 117 Legevakt: Norway’s out-of-hours urgent care line for non-life-threatening medical issues. They can advise treatment or direct you to a clinic.
- 02800 Police service line: Non-emergency police matters like reporting a theft after the fact or seeking advice.
- Poison Information Center: 22 59 13 00: 24-hour advice for exposures, household chemicals, mushrooms, and medications. If the person is worsening or unconscious, call 113 instead.
Save these in your contacts so you are not tempted to tie up emergency lines for issues that can wait a little.
First Aid While You Wait
Dispatchers in Norway are trained to give step-by-step first-aid instructions in English. They will talk you through CPR, controlling bleeding, or placing someone in the recovery position. A few local reminders:
- In cold weather, insulate from the ground and block wind. Even a backpack or spare clothing helps.
- For suspected hypothermia, handle gently and avoid vigorous rubbing. Keep the person horizontal and warm.
- In traffic accidents, do not move someone unless there is immediate danger. Use hazard lights and warning triangles to protect the scene.
Stay on the phone unless asked to hang up. If your battery is low, tell the operator so they can capture key details first.
Using Emergency Phones In Tunnels And Along Roads
Norway’s long road tunnels and mountain passes are equipped for self-help:
- Look for orange SOS phones and fire extinguishers in tunnels. Press the button to connect directly to operators and speak clearly into the intercom.
- If smoke fills a tunnel, follow green exit signs to safe areas or cross passages. Close doors behind you to slow smoke.
- On exposed mountain roads, use lay-bys to stop safely before calling.
These systems are designed for travelers unfamiliar with the route. Use them.
Smart Prep Before Your Trip Or Hike
Small habits make emergencies rarer and easier to manage:
- Store the three numbers 110, 112, 113 and 116 117 in your favorites.
- Set up the Hjelp 113 app and your phone’s emergency medical ID.
- Tell someone your plan for hikes or road trips, including a simple turnaround time.
- Check weather and avalanche bulletins if you are heading into the mountains, and carry basic layers year-round. Norway’s weather changes fast, also in summer.
Learning the local system takes five minutes and repays you with calm if something goes wrong.
Quick Reference
- Fire: 110
- Police: 112
- Ambulance/Medical: 113
- Urgent care, not life-threatening: 116 117
- Police non-emergency: 02800
- Poison Information Center: 22 59 13 00
If you remember nothing else, remember this: call 113 for medical emergencies, 112 for police, and 110 for fire. Say what happened, where you are, and follow the operator’s lead. Norway’s system is built to meet you where you are, whether that is a city sidewalk, a mountain trail, or the middle of a very long tunnel.