The numbers to call, where to go, and calm first steps for the things that actually happen here. Worth a read before you need it — and worth printing to keep by the fridge or in a bag.
National ambulance service. Free, 24/7. English is not guaranteed — if you don't speak Thai, get a Thai speaker (hotel/villa staff) or call 1155 to relay.
English-speaking, 24/7. Great for translating and for crime reports you'll need for insurance — but they can't send an ambulance, so for medical still call 1669.
General police emergency.
Fire and rescue.
Direct line to the private 24-hour Trauma & Emergency Centre. English service.
In a genuine life-threatening emergency, Thailand's UCEP rule means the nearest hospital must treat you for the first 72 hours regardless of payment. Call 1669 and get to the closest emergency room — sort out the paperwork afterwards.
888 Phetkasem Road, Hua Hin
The go-to for serious trauma — a dedicated 24-hour Trauma & Emergency Centre with fast-track stroke, cardiac and head-injury pathways, English service, and mobile/air ICU transfer to Bangkok for the most complex cases. More expensive, and they'll want an insurance guarantee or a deposit up front.
222 Phetkasem Road, Hua Hin
A second private option with multilingual staff (English, German). A good, more comfortable choice — confirm the emergency room is staffed when you call.
30/2 Phetkasem Road, Hua Hin
The main public hospital — much cheaper, but busier and with more limited English. Bring a Thai speaker if you can.
More on each of these — plus clinics, dentists and pharmacies — on the Medical page.
Say the key word slowly, loudly, and repeat — no one minds. Add kráp (if you're male) or kâ (female) to sound polite.
| English | Thai | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | ช่วยด้วย | chûay dûay (choo-ay doo-ay) |
| It's an emergency | เหตุฉุกเฉิน | hèt chùk-chěrn |
| I need a doctor | ฉันต้องการหมอ | chǎn dtông-gaan mǎw |
| I need a hospital | โรงพยาบาล | roong pá-yaa-baan (rong pa-ya-baan) |
| Where is the hospital? | โรงพยาบาลอยู่ที่ไหน | roong pá-yaa-baan yòo tîi-nǎi |
| Call an ambulance | เรียกรถพยาบาลให้หน่อย | rîak rót pá-yaa-baan hâi nòi |
| Call the police | เรียกตำรวจ | rîak dtam-rùat |
| There's been an accident | อุบัติเหตุ | u-bàt-dti-hèet (oo-bat-ti-het) |
| It hurts here (point) | เจ็บตรงนี้ | jèp dtrong níi (jep drong nee) |
| I can't breathe | ฉันหายใจไม่ออก | chǎn hǎai-jai mâi àwk |
| Chest pain / heart attack | เจ็บหน้าอก / หัวใจวาย | jèp nâa-òk / hǔa-jai waai |
| I'm allergic to… | ฉันแพ้… | chǎn páe… (chan pae…) |
| A dog bit me / a snake bit me | หมากัด / งูกัด | mǎa gàt / nguu gàt |
| Take me to Bangkok Hospital | ไปโรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ | bpai roong pá-yaa-baan grung-thêep |
If you have a serious allergy, carry a printed card in Thai — machine translation has been known to garble “allergic to penicillin” into something far weaker. Ask a Thai friend or a pharmacist to write it.
Calm, correct first steps for the situations that actually come up here. This is first-aid guidance, not a substitute for a doctor — when in doubt, call 1669 or go to an emergency room.
The most common serious injury for visitors here.
Emergency — Any loss of consciousness (even brief), confusion, repeated vomiting, a worsening headache, unequal pupils, or fluid from the ears/nose; a deformed limb or bone through skin; bleeding you can't stop; neck/back pain, numbness or weakness. See a doctor within 24h for significant road rash and to check your tetanus cover.
Especially important over 50 — older bodies overheat faster.
Emergency — HEAT STROKE is an emergency — call 1669. Signs: very hot skin that's often NOT sweating, confusion or odd behaviour, seizure or collapse, or no improvement after 30 minutes of cooling. Cool them aggressively while you wait for help.
Emergency — Can't keep fluids down, confusion, little or no urine, or symptoms lasting more than a day — you may need IV fluids, so see a doctor.
Mosquito-borne and endemic here — treat any tropical fever as possible dengue.
Emergency — Warning signs of severe dengue often appear 24–48h AFTER the fever drops: severe belly pain, persistent vomiting, any bleeding (gums, nose, in vomit or stool), easy bruising, lethargy or restlessness, cold clammy skin, fast breathing → hospital immediately.
Time-critical. Note the monkeys at Khao Takiab and Khao Hin Lek Fai.
Emergency — Treat every bite or scratch from a dog, cat or monkey as urgent. Once rabies symptoms appear it is almost always fatal — never 'wait and see'.
Emergency — Do NOT use a tourniquet, cut the wound, try to suck out venom, apply ice, or use herbal 'snake stones'. All suspected venomous bites go to hospital now, even if they seem minor.
The Gulf of Thailand has box jellyfish, which can be fatal.
Emergency — Difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe pain, sweating, vomiting, cramps or collapse — call 1669. A bad box-jellyfish sting can stop the heart within 20–30 minutes; start CPR if they're unresponsive and not breathing.
Emergency — Blood or mucus in the stool, high fever, severe symptoms, signs of dehydration, or lasting more than a couple of days — see a doctor; you may need antibiotics.
Seasonal haze, worst roughly December–April. Most risky for older adults and anyone with heart or lung conditions.
Emergency — Chest pain or severe breathlessness that doesn't ease indoors — call 1669.
Look for the green cross or the Thai word ยา (ya, medicine). Many drugs that need a prescription back home are sold over the counter after a chat with the pharmacist — often your quickest first stop for minor issues. Chains like Boots, Watsons, Pure and Fascino usually have some English.
One caution: antibiotics are easy to buy here, but self-prescribing them is a bad idea — the wrong drug or an unfinished course fuels resistance. Let the pharmacist or a doctor guide you.
Private hospitals want payment or an insurance guarantee up front, so keep your policy number and your insurer's 24-hour assistance linesaved on your phone and on paper. That team can arrange direct billing with the hospital so you don't have to pay a big deposit — ask the hospital's international desk to set it up straight away.
We'll be honest: there is no public register of defibrillator locations for Hua Hin, so we can't map them without guessing — and we won't. In a cardiac emergency, call 1669 immediately and get the person to the nearest hospital (Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin or San Paulo, both 24-hour). Large hotels and malls may keep an AED at their first-aid or security desk — ask staff. If you know of a public AED, please tell us with the Contribute button so we can add it.
We've cross-checked everything here, but details change — if a number or an opening time looks wrong, please tell us. This is general first-aid and safety information, not medical advice.