What to do and Who to call during an emergency in Lithuania

Emergency in Lithuania right now? Call 112. It is the free 24-hour national number for emergency Police, ambulance, firefighting and rescue assistance. Lithuania’s 112 system also covers emergencies requiring environmental protection. Give the exact town, street, building or outdoor landmark and what has happened. If anyone is unconscious, not breathing normally, facing violence, trapped in floodwater or threatened by fire, make the call immediately.

This guide covers Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys, the Baltic coast, lakes, forests and villages. It explains what to do in the first minute, the difference between 112 and the non-emergency 113 health consultation service, SMS and sign-language accessibility, disaster warnings and Lithuania’s LT72 preparedness approach. It is written for residents and visitors who need clear action and accurate national sources, checked 6 November 2026.

Quick answer: Lithuanian emergency and advice contacts

112 — national emergency services: call for ambulance, Police, firefighters or urgent environmental incidents and rescue. Free, available 24 hours daily.
113 — medical consultation: for a health concern that needs professional advice but where there is no immediate threat to life. It is not a replacement for emergency ambulance dispatch through 112.
1852 — ESO electricity faults: electricity interruptions and damaged electricity network infrastructure. Call 112 when someone is injured, a fire is spreading or immediate danger exists.
1804 — gas emergency: suspected natural-gas leaks and gas-supply hazards; move to safety before contacting the utility and call 112 when there is imminent risk.
SMS to 112: when someone cannot speak or call safely, a text may be sent, ideally in Lithuanian with name, detailed address and incident. Voice is faster when possible.
112 mobile app for deaf users: a specialist registration-based service using Lithuanian sign language, video or text. It requires prior registration and a Lithuanian mobile-operator SIM.
LT72: Lithuania’s government civil-protection and preparation information, including shelter, warnings and supplies for at least 72 hours.

Official confirmation: Emergency Response Centre: About 112, Lithuanian Interior Ministry: emergency versus utility and health lines and LT72 civil preparedness guide.

Seven actions in the first 60 seconds

Get out of immediate danger when safe. Move away from fire, smoke, violent threats, unstable trees, electrical cables, moving vehicles or dangerous water.
Call 112. Say whether the emergency is medical, Police, fire, rescue or another urgent hazard. Tell the operator if more than one responder may be needed.
Give the precise location first. State municipality, neighbourhood or eldership, city or village, street, building, apartment and floor. In a forest or lakeside area, use reliable map coordinates or a landmark.
Describe what is happening. For example, ‘one person collapsed’, ‘a building is burning’ or ‘someone is threatening us’.
Count people and explain serious symptoms. Mention anyone unconscious, bleeding, trapped, unable to breathe normally or unable to evacuate without assistance.
Follow the call-taker. Answer questions, provide a reachable phone number and stay connected as directed. Give first aid according to training or dispatcher guidance.
Direct responders safely. If possible, ask someone to meet them at the entrance, bridge, rural road junction, forest trailhead or beach access.

Example: ‘Ambulance. One adult is unconscious at [street and number], [municipality], Building 2, apartment 18, third floor. Use the entrance nearest [landmark]. My mobile is [number].’ An accurate address and patient condition are more useful than a guessed medical diagnosis.

How Lithuania’s 112 call centres work

The Bendrasis pagalbos centras (BPC), or Emergency Response Centre, answers calls to 112 and relays incidents to Police, emergency medical providers, firefighters and environmental protection services. The BPC operates territorial call-answering sections in Vilnius and Klaipėda, coordinating assistance throughout the country.

The operator assesses the need for emergency help, asks about the incident and precise location, and sends the report to the appropriate dispatch organisation. The operator may ask additional questions even after the report has been forwarded, and may connect the caller with an ambulance dispatcher. Give observed facts, not rumours. A mobile-network location may help, but it does not tell the operator which apartment entrance is unlocked or which forest road is usable.

Lithuania’s official explanation is BPC: 112. The agency specifically says not to overload 112 with general enquiries because doing so slows responses to life-threatening incidents. If you hear that other callers have already reported the same incident, provide new useful information rather than repeat a long story.

Medical emergencies: call 112, not 113

Collapse, stroke signs, serious injury or severe difficulty breathing

If a person is unresponsive, not breathing normally, has major bleeding, severe chest pain, signs of a stroke, a major head injury, severe allergic symptoms or another immediate threat, call 112 for emergency medical help. Describe signs and events simply: ‘not responding’, ‘cannot breathe’, ‘significant bleeding’, ‘sudden weakness on one side’ or ‘hit by a car’.

A dispatcher may guide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), or other appropriate first aid. If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, follow the call-taker’s directions and any training you have. Ask another helper to locate an AED and guide the ambulance while somebody remains with the patient if safe.

Do not give water, food or tablets to an unconscious person or someone who cannot swallow safely. Following a major fall or road crash, avoid unnecessary movement unless fire, traffic or another immediate danger requires it. Report changes in breathing or responsiveness.

What is Lithuania’s medical consultation number 113?

The Interior Ministry identifies 113 as an appropriate route when a person requires medical consultation without a direct threat to life. This is a separate function from emergency rescue. If someone suddenly collapses, has severe breathing difficulty or otherwise shows life-threatening symptoms, dial 112 without first seeking routine advice on 113.

Medical assessment may be affected by availability and circumstances, so describe the current symptoms and follow qualified guidance. The purpose of a non-emergency advice service is not to make a person wait while serious symptoms deteriorate. National source: Interior Ministry guidance on 112 and 113.

Fire, smoke, gas and electric hazards

A spreading house, car, hotel or forest fire requires 112. Raise the alarm, warn others where safe, move through a safe exit and close doors behind you if possible to slow smoke. Avoid ordinary lifts during an active fire. Do not return for valuables, documents or devices. If smoke blocks the route, tell firefighters which room, floor and stairwell you occupy rather than entering dense smoke.

If you suspect a gas leak, avoid flames, sparks and operating electrical switches near the leak. Move people to a safe place and use the appropriate gas emergency contact, 1804, from safety. If fire, explosion risk or injury is imminent, call 112. For a downed power cable, keep everyone away and contact ESO on 1852; use 112 when immediate danger to people exists.

The Interior Ministry’s storm-related FAQ distinguishes utility outages from true rescue emergencies. A routine power interruption must not consume emergency call capacity, whereas an electrical injury, sparking line posing an imminent threat or house fire requires urgent help. See official utility and emergency number distinctions.

Police emergencies and immediate safety

Call 112 for an assault, robbery in progress, serious threat, dangerous offender or a person at immediate risk. Move to a safer position first when possible. Tell the operator what you saw, whether anyone is injured and the exact location. Do not pursue a threatening person to collect photographs or video.

The BPC also includes reports of serious suspected violence, dangerous incidents and certain environmental offences. Routine Police enquiries after an event, where there is no immediate danger, should be directed through the appropriate local Police reporting process. When somebody is being attacked now, an emergency response takes priority over paperwork or a complaint form.

What if you cannot speak? SMS to 112

Lithuania allows emergency SMS messages to 112 when it is not possible or safe to speak. The BPC specifically mentions people with hearing or speech impairment and callers unable to speak because an attacker is nearby. It recommends writing the message in Lithuanian and including the caller’s name, exact municipality, eldership, city/village, street, building and apartment, plus a clear statement of what happened.

A short message might say: ‘POLICIJA. [Full address]. Žmogus grasina. Negaliu kalbėti.’ This roughly means ‘Police. [Full address]. Someone is threatening me. I cannot speak.’ A medical message should state the patient is unconscious or not breathing normally and give the complete address. A call is still faster when possible.

Important limitation: SMS does not have the network priority of a voice emergency call. Messages can be delayed and two-way clarification takes time. Do not assume that an SMS is received simply because it appears in the phone’s sent folder. Check for an emergency centre reply if safe. Official procedure: Lithuania 112: SMS emergency requests.

The 112 mobile application for deaf users

Lithuania operates a specialist emergency app designed for registered deaf people. It supports Lithuanian sign-language video calls, text chat and voice calling, and can transmit supported device location data to the Emergency Response Centre. It is not a universal travel app that anybody can install and immediately use to summon help.

The BPC requires registration and an authorisation code from the Lithuanian Deaf Association. The service operates within Lithuania and requires a SIM from a Lithuanian mobile operator. A tourist using only an international roaming SIM should not rely on being able to activate the app during an emergency. The official explanation is 112 app eligibility and features.

Languages: what a foreign visitor can expect

The Emergency Response Centre says its call-takers can receive reports in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish and English. Visitors can therefore request English when calling, but should still state the location clearly. Save the accommodation address in Lithuanian spelling and ask a safe hotel employee or bystander to help explain an unfamiliar street or entrance without postponing the call.

The agency’s 112 FAQ provides these languages and also explains why voice is faster than SMS. No published language list means that every possible foreign language is guaranteed on every call.

Road crashes, vehicle eCall and access

For a crash involving serious injuries, people trapped, fire or danger to road traffic, call 112 and identify the road, direction, nearest junction or kilometre marker, town or nearby landmark. Stay away from moving traffic and leaking fuel. Do not move someone with a possible major neck or spinal injury unnecessarily unless their position is immediately dangerous.

Lithuania’s BPC supports vehicle eCall, which can automatically contact 112 after a serious collision in a suitably equipped vehicle. The device can supply position, direction, vehicle model and certain other relevant data over the mobile network, while opening communication with the emergency centre. It is designed to help when occupants may be unable to call. It does not make every passenger automatically safe.

A bystander should still tell responders about blocked lanes, people missing or injured, an inaccessible motorway direction and any dangerous smoke or fuel spill. The official system description is BPC vehicle eCall.

Floods, thunderstorms and storm damage

Heavy rain can flood low roads, rural river crossings, underground garages and basements. Do not drive or walk through moving or unknown floodwater. A road may have a broken surface underneath; submerged electricity and debris create added hazards. Follow local municipality and national weather warnings and leave early if an evacuation order applies.

If someone is trapped by rising water or urgently needs rescue, call 112 and state the building, floor, number of people and safest remaining access. Do not attempt an untrained rescue into a strong current. For routine storm damage to public electricity infrastructure without immediate threat, use ESO on 1852 rather than occupying 112.

Lithuania’s Interior Ministry published practical guidance after a widespread storm explaining why 112 must remain accessible to genuine Police, firefighter and ambulance requests. Do not confuse a tree blocking a minor path, a routine outage and a tree that has trapped or seriously injured somebody. Report the latter as an emergency.

Chemical spills, harmful animals and environmental incidents

Lithuania is unusual in explicitly including environmental protection among the services that may respond to relevant 112 requests. Serious incidents involving dangerous chemical substances, threats posed by wild animals or certain environmental violations can fall within the system’s responsibilities. Tell the operator whether the situation is presently dangerous to people or the environment and where the incident is occurring.

Do not approach an unknown chemical spill, enter fumes to identify a container or handle an unfamiliar dangerous wild animal. Keep people at a safe distance, avoid exposure and follow the dispatched specialist’s instructions. The Environmental Protection Service may have separate non-emergency reporting arrangements; 112 is for situations requiring urgent intervention. Source: BPC: environmental emergencies.

Air alerts, public sirens and the LT72 preparedness system

LT72 is Lithuania’s official civil protection preparation website. It explains warnings through mobile devices and sirens, what to do during technical, natural and social emergencies, and where to seek more information. In an emergency that involves an air threat or another officially specified need for shelter, follow the instructions in the actual warning, including whether to move to an identified shelter or a safer interior area.

An air-danger alert may require protecting yourself from blast and falling debris. The LT72 guidance advises listening to official radio or television and checking mobile announcements. If directed to take shelter, use the nearest suitable designated place you can reach safely; if that is impossible, seek a safer internal room or basement away from windows and exterior walls, consistent with the event’s instructions.

A warning about toxic chemicals may instead ask you to remain inside and stop ventilation, while a flood evacuation order requires leaving a particular area. These responses are not interchangeable. Read the exact location and hazard in every message. Follow LT72 frequently asked safety questions and the official alerts and shelter site.

Preparing household supplies for at least 72 hours

The Lithuanian government encourages households to prepare to care for themselves and their families for at least 72 hours if electricity, water, transport or shopping are interrupted. LT72 recommends six litres of drinking water per person for 72 hours as a minimum stock for the stated period, along with familiar shelf-stable food and the ability to prepare or consume it without normal utilities.

Useful supplies may include a torch, power bank, radio, warm clothing, first-aid materials, necessary medication, baby supplies, cash and identification documents. Avoid an inflexible shopping list: a household with an infant, older adult, person with a disability or powered medical equipment will have additional needs. Rotate food and water so the plan remains practical.

The official resource is LT72: How to prepare. It also encourages a family plan: decide where to meet, how to receive official warnings, where the nearest safe shelter is and who checks on a neighbour requiring assistance.

Coastal and lake emergencies

Lithuania’s Baltic coast, rivers and lakes can pose drowning, cold-water and boating hazards. If someone is in serious distress, call 112 and describe the beach, pier, harbour, riverbank, lake or vessel and a usable access point. If you know reliable coordinates, provide them. Do not swim into dangerous waves or currents for an untrained rescue attempt.

Cold water can rapidly reduce strength and awareness. After a person is recovered, abnormal breathing, unresponsiveness, serious injury or signs of severe cold exposure may require urgent ambulance help. Keep the location and nature of the event clear to the dispatcher so the appropriate rescue and medical services can be organised.

Severe winter weather, cold and power interruption

Snow, freezing rain, high wind and ice can damage power lines, interrupt heating and make roads unsafe. Keep away from downed electrical equipment, falling tree limbs and exposed road surfaces. A routine utility fault should be reported through 1852 as appropriate, but an electrocution, serious injury or fire requires 112. Never touch wires or wet electrical panels.

A power cut can be especially serious for a person relying on medical equipment requiring electricity. Arrange safe backup power or an alternate care location with qualified providers in advance. Never use fuel generators, charcoal grills or camping stoves indoors or inside an attached garage because of carbon monoxide poisoning risk.

Useful Lithuanian emergency phrases

‘Padėkite!’ — Help!
‘Reikia greitosios pagalbos.’ — I need an ambulance.
‘Gaisras!’ — Fire!
‘Iškvieskite policiją.’ — Call the police.
‘Žmogus be sąmonės.’ — A person is unconscious.
‘Nekvėpuoja normaliai.’ — They are not breathing normally.
‘Adresas yra…’ — The address is…
‘Ar kalbate angliškai?’ — Do you speak English?

A simple phrase is useful, but do not wait to learn a long script. Give your address, describe the urgent problem and answer the operator’s questions. The BPC confirms English service for voice calls. For SMS, however, its official guidance specifically recommends Lithuanian text.

How to describe the location

Municipality and eldership: savivaldybė and seniūnija where relevant, with the city, town or village.
Street and building: gatvė, road number, building or house number.
Apartment: butas, floor, block, entrance and nearest available stairwell.
Public transport: station, platform, line, numbered exit or nearest street.
Road accident: road number, direction, junction or kilometre marker.
Rural or outdoor incident: forest road, village, beach, lake, marked trail or verified map coordinates.
Callback: a working phone number and anything that may prevent responders from entering.

Household and visitor emergency checklist

Save 112 Emergency, 113 medical advice, 1852 ESO and 1804 gas with separate labels.
Write your full address in Lithuanian, including municipality, street, building, apartment and entry details.
Find the building’s safe fire exit, outdoor meeting point and nearest available AED.
Prepare at least 72 hours of food and water, including the LT72 guideline of six litres of water per person.
Keep essential medication, clothing, torch, power bank, safe heating and a source of official information.
Know the nearest designated shelter and how to respond to mobile and siren warnings.
If a family member has a hearing impairment, learn the BPC accessible app and registration process in advance.
Discuss help for children, older adults, pets and people with mobility or powered-medical-device needs.

Common mistakes that delay emergency assistance

Dialling 113 non-emergency medical consultation for someone who has collapsed instead of calling 112.
Using SMS when a safe voice call is possible, despite the BPC warning that SMS lacks emergency network priority.
Assuming the specialist deaf-user app works without Lithuanian registration or with every foreign SIM.
Calling 112 for a routine electricity interruption instead of ESO 1852.
Giving only ‘Vilnius’ or ‘Klaipėda’ without the street, building, apartment or entry.
Entering floodwater or a smoke-filled building to retrieve property.
Believing a map pin identifies the precise floor, room or safe rescue access.
Treating an old warning screenshot as an active instruction for the present location.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lithuania’s main emergency telephone number?

112 is the free 24-hour national number for Police, ambulance, firefighters and urgent environmental protection events.

Can a visitor request English when calling 112?

Yes. The BPC says its operators can accept requests in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish and English.

What is 113 in Lithuania?

It is the national medical consultation line for non-life-threatening concerns. A critically injured or unconscious person needs emergency help through 112.

Can I text Lithuania’s 112 number?

Yes, when speaking or calling is impossible. The agency requests a text in Lithuanian with the caller’s identity, complete address and incident. Voice calls are faster and prioritised.

Does Lithuania have an accessible 112 app?

Yes, specifically for registered deaf people using a Lithuanian SIM. It supports sign-language video, text chat and voice, with prior authorisation.

How long does Lithuania recommend preparing for?

LT72 recommends basic household preparedness for at least 72 hours, including six litres of drinking water per person.

Official Lithuanian sources and other guides

Safety and editorial note: This is general public information, not dispatch, clinical advice or a substitute for current official instructions. Contact information and national preparedness guidance were checked on 6 November 2026. If anyone is in immediate danger in Lithuania, call 112 now.