The old adage of "hope for the best but prepare for the worst" applies as much in Akumal as it does anywhere else.

Hurricanes and other weather emergencies happen. Medical emergencies happen. Fires happen. Vecinos wants all community members to be prepared and safe for all emergencies. On the home page of the Vecinos website, there is a menu item for Emergency Resources. It includes hurricane preparation guidelines and telephone numbers for security issues, ambulances, pharmacies, and doctors. 

The following emergency services guidelines have been adapted from a series of articles that appeared in AkumalNow, and are provided with their kind permission:

911 is the primary emergency number for police, medical and fire services

• When you call, operators ask for location (street, neighborhood, city) and the emergency type. So, you'll need to know your location, even if you’re on vacation.
  
• You can 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.
• Alternate numbers include 066 for police emergencies if 911 fails, 065 for Red Cross ambulances, and 071 for electrical outages (connects you to the public utility CFE)
• Operators are primarily Spanish-speaking, and you’ll need to communicate your location (street, neighborhood, city) and the type of emergency, in Spanish. English-speaking operators may be available, if requested, but not guaranteed.
• 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.
• Services dispatched include police (policía), fire (bomberos) and medical (médicos), offering ambulance transport and first aid.
• 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.
• if you have private insurance, tell the operator or first responder immediately to send you to a preferred hospital.

What to expect from Emergency Services in Mexico

• Unlike in the US or Canada, where paramedics might treat you extensively on-site, Mexican EMS prioritizes rapid transport over advanced care.
• In Mexico, paramedics assess you, stabilize if needed, and whisk you to the nearest hospital
• It is not a mobile ER.
• Medics won’t stitch you up or run an EKG on the spot. They are trained to prioritize, stabilize, and transport.
• Equipment is basic: Stretchers, oxygen, and first aid supplies.
• If you have private insurance, mention it upfront.
• Life-threatening cases go to the closest facility, public (IMSS) or private. You can request a specific hospital if possible.
• In rural areas, there are fewer resources.

How much do Emergency Services cost in Mexico?

• A quick ambulance ride to the hospital may end up costing a couple of hundred dollars depending on which service you use and which hospital you are going to.  Cruz Roja (Red Cross) might not be available, so you may need a private ambulance.  Many hospitals have their own ambulances for transport to their facility.
  
• Travel health insurance, along with evacuation insurance, is available and you should check it out if you plan to travel for an extended period. Just remember that most travel insurance companies require you to pay up front, and then will reimburse after much paperwork and possibly months before you see the money.
  

Getting Emergency service in your home in Mexico

• EMT’s in Mexico are not allowed to break into your home to reach you without verbal consent. This rule exists because they can’t legally damage property, like kicking in a door or smashing a window to gain entry.  They need your verbal permission to “break in”.
• If you live alone, this makes having a friend or neighbor ( a medical buddy) with a spare key, critical.
• If you can make a call, contact your buddy and 911 right away.
• Your friend or neighbor with a spare key can unlock the door while emergency services are on their way
• Without that backup, you could be stuck waiting, unable to let help in.

Green Angels Emergency Services 

• Stuck on a highway with a flat tire or fender-bender? Green Angels might be your lifeline.
• Dial 078 and these government-funded road warriors will arrive to help you out.
• They patrol federal highways in green SUVs, offering free help – think first aid, towing or basic repairs.
• They are not EMS, so don’t expect an ambulance.
• Coverage in rural areas is not available and night shifts in some areas are limited.
• If a crash leaves you stranded, they’ll patch you up and coordinate the next steps.
• The good news, they speak English!