Expat Words · Practical guide
Urgencias: Urgent and emergency care
Understand urgencias, what to check and the practical steps to take.
What does it mean?
Urgencias means urgent or emergency care. For an emergency in Spain, call 112; in the Canary Islands this service coordinates emergency resources around the clock.
If someone may be in immediate danger, seek emergency help now rather than reading further or waiting for an ordinary appointment.
An everyday example
Save your address and useful location details somewhere easy to find before an emergency happens.
What to do next
- Call 112 in an emergency and give your location as clearly as possible.
- Explain what has happened and follow the operator’s instructions.
- For non-emergency access questions, ask your health service which urgent-care facility to use.
- After treatment, keep any discharge information and check the follow-up instructions with the care team.
A useful question to ask
Which service should I use outside my health centre’s opening hours?
Check the official guidance
Canary Islands Government: 112 emergency service
Sources checked on 8 September 2026. These explanations and preparation prompts are introductory, not complete procedural instructions or individual legal, tax or medical advice. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority or qualified professional before acting.