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

Emergency in Sweden right now? Call 112. It connects urgent ambulance, fire and rescue, police, sea and mountain rescue and other emergency services. Give the municipality, exact address or verifiable outdoor landmark and the nature of the danger. If someone is unconscious, not breathing normally, being attacked, trapped or in a growing fire, make the call now.

This Sweden guide covers Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala, Kiruna, rural communities, lakes, the archipelago and northern winter destinations. It is intended for residents and visitors who need an actionable decision rather than a long search. It starts with telephone numbers and first-minute steps, then explains healthcare advice, non-emergency police contacts, severe-weather alerts, the newly launched SE-Alert warning system and accessible 112 communication. Official information reviewed 6 November 2026.

Quick answer: which telephone number should you call in Sweden?

112 — urgent emergency response: ambulance, fire brigade, police, sea and mountain rescue, serious environmental danger and other urgent services coordinated through SOS Alarm.
1177 — healthcare advice (sjukvårdsrådgivning): nurse-led medical advice and help finding appropriate care when symptoms are not immediately life-threatening.
114 14 — non-urgent police contact: report an offence that is not happening now, give non-urgent information or ask police questions. From abroad or a foreign mobile subscription in Sweden, the police list +46 77 114 14 00.
113 13 — crisis information: official information about major accidents, serious disruptions and crises. From outside Sweden or a foreign mobile, use +46 77 33 113 13.
116 000 — missing children: the EU missing-children hotline operating in Sweden, distinct from the urgent police and ambulance service.
SMS112 — registered accessibility service: emergency text contact for people who are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment; preregistration and a Swedish mobile subscription are required.
Real-time text (RTT) with 112: an accessibility option introduced in March 2026 for supported phones and networks; it allows text communication during a voice-connected emergency call.

SOS Alarm’s official important numbers directory and Sweden’s government crisis-information directory updated June 2026 confirm 112, 1177, 114 14, 113 13 and 116 000. A separate specialist number is not a substitute for calling 112 when lives are in immediate danger.

The first 60 seconds: seven actions

Move away from the immediate hazard if safe. Smoke, traffic, moving water, violent threats, live electricity, unstable ice and avalanche terrain can endanger a helper too.
Call 112. Do not spend time deciding which local fire station or ambulance provider is responsible. Explain the incident and the needed assistance.
Give the precise location. Say the municipality, town, road and building number, apartment or floor, station exit or landmark. In remote terrain give a mapped position, trail or road access.
Explain what happened in one clear sentence. ‘A person has collapsed’ or ‘there is smoke in the stairwell’ is more useful than a speculative diagnosis.
Count people affected. Mention whether anyone is unresponsive, breathing abnormally, bleeding, trapped, injured or unable to evacuate unaided.
Follow the SOS operator. They may instruct CPR, AED use, first aid or a safe movement. Stay on the line as instructed.
Prepare access safely. Ask a helper to meet the ambulance or rescue crew at a clear entrance, junction, quay or trailhead if doing so is safe.

A useful call: ‘Ambulance, please. One adult is unconscious at [street, house number, municipality], floor two, apartment 8. Use the side entrance. My number is [telephone].’ SOS Alarm operators can speak Swedish or English and use interpretation assistance when appropriate, so a tourist should give the location promptly rather than delaying to learn Swedish.

What happens when you call SOS Alarm 112?

An SOS operator asks what happened, where, who is affected and whether the situation requires an ambulance, rescue service, police or another urgent agency. The operator assesses the nature of the emergency and can coordinate several services for one incident. A highway crash may require medical, fire and police help; a mountain incident may require rescue resources as well as an ambulance.

Sweden’s SOS Alarm states that its operators speak Swedish or English and may use an interpreter. These are important capabilities for international students and visitors, but you should still describe the address, breathing, injuries, number of people and current threats in short factual sentences. Do not assume an incoming mobile position automatically identifies the correct building entrance or trail. Official explanation: SOS Alarm — what to know before calling 112.

Medical emergency or healthcare advice? Choose 112 or 1177

When to call 112 for an ambulance

Call 112 for serious chest pain, stroke symptoms, unconsciousness, absent or abnormal breathing, severe injuries, significant bleeding, seizures or another immediate threat to life. Describe observed symptoms, not the disease you suspect. If the person is not breathing normally and is unresponsive, follow the operator’s instructions for CPR and an automated external defibrillator, according to your training.

If there is severe bleeding, appropriate direct pressure can be useful when safe, guided by first-aid training or the operator. Do not give food, water or oral medication to someone who is not fully alert or cannot swallow. After a major collision or fall, avoid unnecessary movement unless the surrounding danger makes staying in place unsafe.

When to call 1177

1177 provides medical advice from a nurse when a health concern is not immediately life-threatening but you need help deciding what to do, including which clinic or emergency department is appropriate. It is not a backdoor emergency ambulance number. If the patient collapses, cannot breathe normally or has other danger signs, call 112 instead.

Swedish crisis information lists the alternative phone number +46 771 1177 00 for a phone registered outside Sweden. The same national service has online information at 1177 Healthcare Guide, with medical guidance and regional care information. Do not delay a 112 call while navigating an online symptom checker during an acute life-threatening incident.

Violence or crime: 112 or police 114 14?

Call 112 for an ongoing assault, robbery, serious threat, dangerous offender or crime in progress when urgent police intervention is needed. Move to safety when possible. Report where it is happening, the number of people involved, observed weapons or injuries and any direction a suspect went if known. Do not pursue or confront a threatening person to gather photographs.

Use 114 14 for non-urgent police matters, such as reporting a theft discovered after an offender has left or giving information that does not require immediate response. The Swedish Police confirms that 114 14 operates around the clock, in Swedish and English. With a foreign phone or from abroad use +46 77 114 14 00. See Police Authority contact rules.

Fire, smoke or a dangerous chemical release

In a fire, call 112, alert people and use a safe escape route. Avoid lifts during an active building fire unless firefighters direct otherwise. Close doors if safe and do not return into smoke for possessions. If the stairwell is unsafe, move to a safer location when possible, give the operator the floor, unit and window location, and follow fire-service instructions.

If a chemical or industrial incident produces dangerous smoke, seek protection according to the actual public-warning message. Sometimes the right action is to go indoors and close ventilation; sometimes a particular area must evacuate. Do not automatically go outside to investigate the smell. Avoid sparks or switching electrical items near a suspected flammable-gas leak.

Sweden’s VMA and Hesa Fredrik: when the siren sounds

Viktigt Meddelande till Allmänheten (VMA), or Important Public Announcement, warns the public about serious dangers. The outdoor siren is popularly known as Hesa Fredrik. In an actual VMA event, the official advice is to go indoors, close windows and doors, turn off ventilation if possible, and listen to Sveriges Radio P4 or read government crisis information.

The outdoor VMA signal consists of repeated bursts with pauses and is normally tested at 3pm on the first Monday of March, June, September and December, except holidays. When an alert is a declared test, it is not an instruction that every person must call emergency dispatch. The all-clear has a different continuous tone. If you hear an unexpected warning, seek official information.

Do not call 112 merely to ask why the siren sounded; use 113 13 for information about the crisis, follow Sveriges Radio P4 and check Krisinformation.se. SOS Alarm explains the warnings at Important Public Announcements and the outdoor siren guide.

SE-Alert in 2026: the new mobile Cell Broadcast warning

SE-Alert is Sweden’s newer mobile emergency-warning channel using Cell Broadcast technology. It began implementation on 1 July 2026 and its first limited regional public test took place on 7 September 2026. The government announced a broader nationwide test for December 2026. It is complementary to the existing VMA siren, radio, television, SMS and crisis-information channels.

A compatible updated smartphone within the targeted area can receive an SE-Alert without an app, internet connection or phone-number registration. Do not tell readers that SE-Alert requires an app or that the September test proves every future alert reaches every handset. The system was being tested and refined through 2026. Read the alert’s text and follow the action specified for your location. Government sources: Swedish government 7 September 2026 test and implementation and test timeline.

SMS112 and real-time text: accessibility matters

For people who are deaf or have hearing or speech impairment, SMS112 is a pre-registered service enabling direct text communication with 112. It requires registration with SOS Alarm before the emergency and a Swedish SIM/subscription. A tourist roaming on a foreign SIM must not assume that ordinary texting to 112 reaches Swedish emergency staff.

On 3 March 2026, Sweden introduced real-time text (RTT) to 112. With supported hardware, software and mobile networks, RTT can transmit text during the call and can help communicate more quickly than conventional SMS. It is primarily intended for people who need accessible communication, though the official guidance says anyone calling 112 may use the feature where supported.

Importantly, SOS Alarm says audio remains active when using RTT and asks callers not to turn it off because surrounding sounds can be medically significant. Configure accessibility settings on your phone before an emergency. Official source: SOS Alarm accessibility update, April 2026.

Mountain rescue, forests and winter travel

Sweden’s 112 dispatch can coordinate mountain rescue and air rescue as needed. A person injured on a winter trail, lost in extreme cold or trapped in an avalanche risk area should call a working emergency service and report the mountain area, trail marker, nearest hut, last known location and number of people. Do not step into unstable avalanche terrain or hazardous ice in an attempt to reach a person without appropriate expertise and equipment.

For winter travel, check weather and avalanche reports, carry a suitable map and communication plan, and tell someone the planned route and return time. Sudden snowfall, poor visibility or a frozen lake with unstable ice can make a location inaccessible. Do not assume your phone will have mobile coverage in every remote part of northern Sweden.

Flooding, storms and dangerous forest fires

Heavy rain and snowmelt can cause floods, while strong winds can damage trees and power lines. Avoid low bridges, flooded roads, riverbanks in flood and damaged electrical infrastructure. Do not drive through water where its depth or current is unknown. Obey local municipality and county authority directions about road closures or evacuation.

In a forest fire, report an immediate danger through 112, move away from smoke and follow official evacuation instructions. Wind can change the fire’s direction quickly, and a road that was safe earlier may become inaccessible. Do not drive into a closed area or back toward a wildfire to photograph flames.

The Swedish crisis-information portal publishes information from relevant government authorities at Krisinformation.se. It also explains the status and purpose of current weather warnings. General preparation should be adapted to the town, forest, lake or coast actually affected, rather than relying on a generic nationwide forecast.

Seven days of household preparedness

Swedish official guidance advises people to be able to manage on their own for at least one week if water, electricity, communications or the ability to buy food is disrupted. This does not replace emergency services; it makes it possible for those services to focus on people who cannot manage independently. A useful plan covers drinking water, food, heating or warmth, communication, medication, hygiene, money and lighting.

Keep some cash, a battery or crank radio, flashlights, power banks, suitable non-perishable food and enough clean water to cover realistic household needs. Make plans for children, pets, disabilities, essential medicine and powered medical devices. Never operate a charcoal grill or fuel-burning generator indoors due to carbon monoxide danger. Official guidance: Get prepared in Sweden.

Useful Swedish emergency phrases

‘Hjälp!’ — Help!
‘Jag behöver en ambulans.’ — I need an ambulance.
‘Det brinner.’ — There is a fire.
‘Jag behöver polisen.’ — I need the police.
‘En person är medvetslös.’ — A person is unconscious.
‘Personen andas inte normalt.’ — The person is not breathing normally.
‘Adressen är…’ — The address is…
‘Talar du engelska?’ — Do you speak English?
‘Vi är nära…’ — We are near…

These phrases can help a visitor, but Swedish SOS operators also speak English. Keep a written address, station name or mountain trail location accessible. It is better to provide accurate information in English immediately than to delay an emergency call to translate a long story.

How to give a location that Swedish responders can find

Municipality: name the town or kommun and county if it prevents confusion.
Street: provide gatan/vägen and the building number, apartment, floor and entrance.
Station: name the railway or metro station, line, platform, carriage position or marked exit.
Highway: road number, direction, nearest interchange or kilometre marker.
Forest and mountain: trail name, closest hut or road access, coordinates and last known position.
Archipelago: island, harbour, pier, vessel or clearly identified shoreline access.
Callback: your reachable number and obstacles such as a locked gate or closed road.

A five-minute family, student or visitor emergency plan

Save 112 for emergencies, 1177 for medical advice and 114 14 for non-urgent police.
Save 113 13 for crisis information and tell relatives not to call 112 simply to confirm a VMA.
Write your complete address and the nearest safe access point, including apartment and floor.
Check building fire routes, school arrangements, the nearest AED and an outside meeting area.
Review whether you need to register for SMS112 or configure RTT and other accessibility tools.
Understand Hesa Fredrik and newer SE-Alert warning messages, and keep your phone software updated.
Prepare essential water, food, warmth, lighting and communication for at least a week.
Check on people who might have difficulty evacuating, communicating or using a powered medical device.

Common mistakes

Calling 113 13 for an ambulance when it is an information line rather than emergency dispatch.
Dialling 114 14 during an assault that requires immediate police response instead of 112.
Believing SMS112 works for unregistered foreign SIM users.
Assuming SE-Alert is a smartphone app to download, rather than a Cell Broadcast channel.
Using the new public-alert system as though it replaces the 112 emergency voice line.
Staying outdoors to look for a siren’s cause when the real VMA instruction is to go inside.
Crossing unstable ice or avalanche terrain to rescue someone without training.
Giving only the city without a street, apartment entrance, trail or usable location.

Frequently asked questions

Is 112 the only emergency telephone number I need in Sweden?

For immediate threats to life, safety, property or the environment, 112 is the national emergency number. Other numbers such as 1177, 114 14 and 113 13 address non-urgent or informational needs.

What is 113 13 used for?

113 13 gives information during serious accidents and crises. It helps people obtain official information without occupying the 112 emergency line.

Does 112 provide help in English?

SOS Alarm confirms its emergency operators speak Swedish or English, with interpreter assistance when appropriate.

Do I need to register for SMS112?

Yes. The SMS112 service requires advance registration and a Swedish mobile subscription. Real-time text was also introduced for supported emergency calls in March 2026.

Is SE-Alert fully introduced in 2026?

It began implementation in July 2026 with a regional public test on 7 September. The government announced further national testing in December 2026 and describes it as an additional VMA channel, not a replacement for others.

How long should a household be prepared without services?

Swedish government guidance recommends preparation for at least one week without normal water, electricity or shopping access.

Official Swedish sources and related guides

Safety and editorial note: This public guide is not an emergency dispatch service or a substitute for medical professionals and live authorities. Regional warnings and communication systems change. Information checked 6 November 2026. In an active emergency in Sweden, call 112 now.