Getting sick is never fun, but being in a foreign country and not being able to communicate your illness can definitely ruin your trip. Learn some French illness vocabulary so that you can communicate with French-speaking doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists. Travellers who have specific illnesses or ailments, like allergies or diabetes, will want to memorise the phrases for that particular condition prior to traveling. It will ensure that you can get proper and prompt aid should an emergency arise. Note: Many of the words below are linked to .wav files. Simply click on the link to listen to the pronunciation.

How to Ask for Medical Help

Let's begin with the simple words you will need when asking for help and the medical professionals you may need to call on. Should you have a medical emergency, you can call for help using one of these phrases.

Urgence ! (Emergency)
Au secours ! (Help!)

When you need the attention of a medical professional, use one of these phrases. Begin each request with "avoir besoin…" (to require something / need…) and end it with the type of professional help you require.

to need…	avoir besoin…
… help	… d'aide
… a doctor	… d'un médecin
… a nurse	… un infirmier
… an ambulance	… d'une ambulance
… a dentist	… un dentiste
… a pharmacist	… un pharmacien

Medical Emergencies

While traveling, medical emergencies can be very serious, particularly if you cannot speak the language. If you cannot tell someone what is wrong, it can lead to a feeling of helplessness and possible mistreatment.Be prepared by learning a few simple phrases. It may even be helpful to write down your condition and these phrases in French and have them in a convenient location, such as your wallet or bag.

to have a heart attack	avoir une crise cardiaque
to have a stroke	avoir une attaque
to be in labor	être en travail
to break one's arm, leg	se casser le bras, la jambe

Asthma

People who have asthma should memorise these two lines as they can quickly convey your needs to the people around you.

to have asthma	être asthmatique
to need an inhaler	avoir besoin d'un inhalateur

Diabetes

Likewise, if you have diabetes, these French phrases are essential before you travel.

to have diabetes	être diabétique
to need sugar now	avoir besoin de sucre immédiatement

Blood Pressure

If your blood pressure is a concern, it will not hurt to learn these phrases in French. Notice the subtle difference between high and low blood pressure.

Blood pressure	la tension arterielle
to have high blood pressure	faire de l'hypertension
to have low blood pressure	faire de l'hypotension

Allergies

Allergies are nothing to play around with, either. If you or someone you're traveling with has an allergy, you should know the French translation prior to your trip. Are you allergic to certain foods? Learn how to say that particular food in French and say it after "être allergique à …" This is also important while dining, so you can ask if, for instance, peanuts are an ingredient: Sont le arachides dans cette nourriture ? (Are peanuts in this food?)

to be allergic to…	être allergique à …
… aspirin	… l'aspirine
… iodine	… l'iode
… penicillin	… la pénicilline

Common Illnesses and Ailments

The most common French verbs for describing illness are avoir and être. You will notice that some ailments use one or the other and that either can mean 'to be' or 'to have'.

This first group uses the verb "avoir…"

to have…	avoir…
… arthritis	… de l'arthrite
… diarrhea	… la diarrhée
… an earache	… mal à l'oreille
… a fever	… de la fièvre
… the flu	… la grippe
… frostbite	… des engelures
… hangover	… la gueule de bois
… hay fever	… un rhume des foins
… a headache	… mal à la tête
… heartburn	… des brûlures d'estomac
… hemorrhoids (piles)	… des hémorroïdes
… motion sickness	… le mal des transports
… a runny nose	… le nez qui coule
… sinusitis	… de la sinusite
… a stomachache	… mal à l'estomac
… a toothache	… mal aux dents

Do you have an ache somewhere else? Learn the basic French words for various body parts. If you have any of these conditions, you will begin the sentence with être… (to have…).

to have…	être…
… insomnia	… insomniaque
… a cold	… enrhumé

You can describe a condition or symptom in French with these words. They are also preceded by être… (to be…).

to have…	être…
… constipated	… constipé
… jet lagged	… fatigué dû au décalage horaire
… pregnant	… enceinte
… sick	… malade
… sunburnt	… brûlé par le soleil
… tired	… fatigué

To describe how you are feeling or the following symptoms, begin with the verb avoir… (to be).

to be…	avoir…
… cold	… froid
… dizzy	… le vertige
… hot	… chaud
… seasick	… le mal de mer

Useful translations

le corps	body
les cheveux	hair
la tête	head
le visage	face
un œil les yeux	eye eyes
le nez	nose
la joue	cheek
la bouche	mouth
la lèvre	lip
la dent	tooth
une oreille	ear
le cou	neck
la poitrine	chest
un estomac	stomach
le bras	arm
une épaule	shoulder
le coude	elbow
le poignet	wrist
la main	hand
le doigt	finger
un ongle	fingernail
le pouce	thumb
le dos	back
la jambe	leg
le genou	knee
la cheville	ankle
le pied	foot
un orteil	toe

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required when travelling to France, but the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all travellers be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, regardless of their destination.

Air France vaccination center

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment, call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

As regards your pets, you must provide their health certificates and ensure that they have been vaccinated against rabies. Also check with the embassy or consular services that their particular breed is permitted on French territory.

Food safety

There are no specific food safety risks. French government authorities promote good hygiene practices and put in place strengthened control procedures for sites especially frequented by tourists during the summer months.

Water

Tap water in the French Riviera or water from fountains reading 'eau potable' is safe to drink, although many French prefer to buy bottled water. Water from fountains reading 'eau non potable' is not safe.

Emergencies

Should you be a witness or the victim of an accident, you may require medical treatment that cannot wait until the following day. These are the emergency services to contact:

Services	Phone number
Fire brigade	18
Police	17
SAMU (accidents)	15
Drug Info Service	0 800 23 13 13
AIDS/HIV Info Service	0 800 840 800
Poison treatment diseases	01 40 05 48 48
Sexualy-transmitted diseases	01 40 78 26 00
SOS médecins (doctors)	01 47 07 77 77
SOS dentaire (dentists)	01 43 37 51 00
SOS burns (hôpital Cochin)	01 58 41 41 41

Before You go

• Carry medications in original, clearly labelled containers in carry-on luggage.
• Dental care in France is good; get a pre-departure check-up to minimise risk.

Availability & Cost of Care

• For emergencies, dial 15 for ambulance (SAMU) or urgent house call. Or find the nearest hôpital or salles des urgence. Doctors' offices are cabinets médicals.
• For medical referrals and minor illnesses, pharmacists dispense advice and sell medications: look for green neon crosses.
• Doctor visits cost about €25.
• Emergency contraception is available by prescription. Condoms (préservatifs) are commonly available.

Toilets

• Public toilets in the French Riviera are signposted toilettes or WC. The self-cleaning cylindrical toilets you see on the city pavements are open 24 hours, reasonably clean and free of charge, though, of course, they never seem to be around when you need them. Look for the words libre (‘available’; green-coloured) or occupé (‘occupied’; red-coloured).
• Cafe owners do not appreciate you using their facilities if you are not a paying customer (a coffee can be a good investment); however, if you have young children they may make an exception (ask first!). Other good bets are major department stores and big hotels.

Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance to cover theft, loss and medical problems is highly recommended. You can buy, extend and claim an insurance online anytime – even if you’re already on the road.

Dangers and annoyances

In general, Nice and Cannes are safe cities and random street assaults are rare. The cities are generally well lit and there’s no reason not to use the bus until it stops running. Many women do travel alone, late at night, in most areas.

Pickpocketing can be a big concern. Always be alert and take precautions: don’t carry more money than you need, and keep your credit cards, passport and other documents in a concealed pouch, a hotel safe or a safe-deposit box.

Government Travel Advice

The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on current hotspots.

• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (www.smarttraveller.gov.au)
• British Foreign Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice)
• Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca)
• Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/reisadviezen)
• German Federal Foreign Office (www.auswaertiges-amt.de)
• Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (www.mofa.go.jp)
• New Zealand Department of Foreign Affairs (www.safetravel.govt.nz)
• US State Department (www.state.gov/travel)

Health Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance to cover any medical problems is strongly recommended.

Citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein receive free or reduced-cost, state-provided, health-care cover with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you qualify, make sure you arrange it in your home country prior to travelling to France.

You can buy, extend and claim an online insurance any time – even if you’re already on the road.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies (chemists) are marked by a large illuminated green cross outside. At least one in each neighbourhood is open for extended hours.

Legal Matters

If the police stop you for any reason, be polite and remain calm. They have wide powers of search and seizure and can, without any particular reason, decide to examine your passport, visa, carte de séjour (residence permit) and so on. (You are expected to have photo ID on you at all times.) Do not challenge them. French police are strict about security. Do not leave baggage unattended; they are quite serious when they say that suspicious objects will be summarily blown up.