Emergency Numbers and Services in Albania

Emergency Numbers And Services In Albania

Knowing the right emergency number can save precious time. This page explains Albania’s main emergency lines, what each service handles, and what information to share so help can be dispatched quickly and correctly.

Save These Numbers

If you remember just one thing, remember this:

112 — Emergency Line (If Unsure, Start Here)
127 — Ambulance And Medical Emergency
128 — Fire And Rescue
129 — Police
126 — Traffic Police

Tip: Add these to your phone contacts before you need them.

Tap To Call

On a mobile device, these buttons can start a call:

Use emergency lines only for urgent situations requiring immediate assistance.

Emergency Numbers In Albania

Albania uses a combination of a general emergency line and dedicated service numbers. The table below is designed for quick reference and is suitable for saving or printing.

Service	Number	Best For	What To Prepare
Emergency Line	112	Starting Point If You Are Not Sure Which Service To Call	Location, What Happened, How Many People Need Help
Ambulance	127	Urgent Medical Assistance And Ambulance Dispatch	Age, Symptoms, Conscious/Breathing Status, Exact Address
Fire And Rescue	128	Fire, Smoke, Or Rescue Assistance	Exact Location, Building Floor, Any Immediate Hazards You Notice
Police	129	Urgent Public Safety Assistance	Where You Are, What Is Happening Right Now, Any Immediate Risks
Traffic Police	126	Road Traffic Assistance And Incident Support	Road Name/Direction, Nearest Town, Landmarks, Vehicle Details If Relevant

How The Emergency System Works

In practice, you have two smart options:

Call a dedicated service number if you clearly know what help is needed (ambulance, fire and rescue, police, or traffic police).
Call 112 if you are unsure which service should respond, if multiple services may be needed, or if you want a single starting point in a stressful moment.

Helpful Mindset: Emergency operators work fastest when they can answer three questions: Where are you? What is happening? Who needs help?

When To Use 112

Use 112 when you need urgent help and any of the following is true:

You are not sure which service is the right one.
You believe more than one service may be needed (for example, medical help and traffic assistance).
You are in a new area and want a single number to start the response.

If you are calm enough to choose, using the dedicated numbers below can also be effective. The most important thing is to call promptly and share clear location details.

Ambulance And Medical Emergency 127

The Ministry of Health refers to 127 as the national emergency number for medical emergencies. If you need an ambulance, this is the most direct line to use.

Information That Helps Medical Teams

Exact location: street name and number if available, plus a nearby landmark (hotel name, shop sign, major intersection).
Patient basics: approximate age and main symptoms in simple words.
Immediate status: awake or unconscious, breathing normally or not.
Access details: apartment floor, entry code, or the best meeting point if you can safely go outside.

If A Call Drops: Call back immediately. If possible, keep the phone line free after you call so responders can reach you.

Fire And Rescue 128

For fire and rescue assistance, use 128. When reporting a fire, specific location details help responders arrive with the right equipment and find the safest access route.

Details That Matter For Fire And Rescue

Exact address and the floor or area (for example: basement, stairwell, rooftop).
Visible signs such as smoke, flames, or blocked exits (describe briefly and calmly).
People involved and whether anyone may need evacuation assistance.

Police And Traffic Support

Police 129

For urgent public safety assistance, call 129. If you are not sure whether to call police directly, you can also start with 112.

Traffic Police 126

For road traffic assistance and incident support, call 126. On roads, the fastest way to be found is usually a combination of your direction of travel and a nearby town name or recognizable landmark.

Road Location Shortcut: If you can do so safely, share a map pin or GPS coordinates to a trusted contact, then describe the closest visible sign or landmark to the operator.

What To Say When You Call

Even in stressful moments, a simple structure makes your call clearer. Use this order:

State your location first (city or neighborhood, street name, building name, and a landmark).
Describe what is happening in one sentence (keep it direct).
Say what help you need (ambulance, fire and rescue, police, traffic police).
Share key details (how many people, any immediate risks, access information like floor or entry gate).
Stay on the line until the operator says you can hang up.

Clear Phrases You Can Use

My Location Is: [Place, Street, Landmark]
I Need: Ambulance / Fire And Rescue / Police / Traffic Police
There Are: [Number] people needing help
Access: [Floor, Gate, Meeting Point]

Practical Preparation

A little preparation can make an emergency call smoother without adding any complexity to your day-to-day routine.

Keep This In Your Notes App

Your current accommodation name and full address
A nearby landmark you can pronounce easily
Any essential medical information you may need to share quickly
A local contact number (hotel reception or host)

Phone Setup

Enable location services for maps
Keep a power bank when traveling between cities
Save the emergency numbers as contacts with clear labels
Consider setting your lock screen medical info if your phone supports it

Small But Useful: If you are calling from a noisy place, move a few steps away from traffic, music, or crowds if it is safe. Clear audio helps operators understand you faster.

Emergency Numbers and Services in Albania