Colombia flagEmergency Services Guide · Colombia

Emergency Services Guide in Colombia

Emergency numbers, response times, hospital systems, and trauma centers

• Emergency Number: 123 (universal emergency)

• Ambulance Response: 10-15 minutes urban, 25-40 minutes rural

• Hospital Coverage: Mixed public-private system with nationwide emergency services

• Trauma Centers: Major centers in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali

• Language Support: Spanish primary, limited English in major cities

Emergency Numbers

Universal

123

Police

112

Fire

119

Medical

125

Other Numbers

Poison Control: 0180-0916012
Coast Guard: +(57) 3102368026

Response Times

Urban Areas

~12 min

Rural Areas

~35 min

Response times vary significantly between urban and rural regions, with major cities having faster emergency services

Hospital System

System Type: mixed

Comprehensive healthcare system with public SISBEN program and private insurance options, covering most urban and metropolitan areas

Coverage Rating:7.2/10

Major Trauma Centers

Level 1 trauma centers in major metropolitan areas with advanced emergency care capabilities

BogotáMedellínCaliBarranquilla

Specialized Care:

  • Burn centers
  • Cardiac care
  • Stroke units

Language Support

English Available: Limited

Emergency services primarily operate in Spanish. International visitors should have translation support