Emergency Services in Mexico: Part 1

Navigating the Mexican Emergency Response System

This article is the first in a 3-part series, that will help you understand how to get help when needed, be it police, medical, fire or road service.

911 is the primary emergency number for police, medical and fire services.  This system is used in the United States and Canada, as well.  In 2016, it was created by the Interior Ministry and is operated by the National Emergency Services Center under the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection.

• When you call, operators ask for location (street, neighborhood, city) and the emergency type. So you need to know your location, even if you’re on vacation.
• Calls are routed to the nearest service provider: police, fire or ambulance, based on your needs.
• In major cities, like Cancún, or possibly Playa del Carmen, the system is reliable, with trained staff dispatching services as quickly as possible.
• Rural areas may have limited coverage, and some regions lack 911 entirely. But they may have an alternate number.
• Expect Spanish as the default language. English-speaking operators may be available in urban centers, if requested, but not guaranteed.
• Services dispatched include –
  • Police (Policía): Handled by Federal Police and the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) for crime and safety issues.
  • Fire (Bomberos): Managed by the Secretariat of National Defense, (SEDENA) and Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) for fires and search-and-rescue.
  • Medical (Médicos): Provided by the Secretariat of Health (SSA) and Mexican Red Cross (Cruz Roja), offering ambulance transport and first aid.
• Alternate numbers include –
  • 066: Police emergencies if 911 fails
  • 065: Direct to the Red Cross ambulances
  • 071: Electrical outages, connects you to the public utility CFE

Upon arrival, responders assess and assist-medical aid, fire suppression, or crime response- coordinating with agencies like the Red Cross or Civil Protection as needed.

How to call 911 in Mexico

• Dial 911 from any phone – landline or mobile (works even without a plan) – for immediate assistance in urgent situations like medical crises or life-threatening emergencies.
• Operators are primarily Spanish-speaking, and you’ll need to communicate your location (street, neighborhood, city) and the type of emergency, in Spanish.
• If you have private insurance, tell the operator or first responder immediately to send you to a preferred hospital.