The Berlin medical-emergency triage guide is a decision tool that clearly separates four care routes when sudden symptoms strike: the emergency number 112 (ambulance service with emergency physician), the hospital emergency room, the medical on-call service 116 117, and the private home visit. Berlin receives more than 1,000 medical emergency calls every day, yet only around 40 percent are genuine life-threatening emergencies – making the right judgement decisive for survival, waiting time, and the responsible use of resources.
Important first: This guide does not replace medical assessment. At any suspicion of a life-threatening situation – shortness of breath, unconsciousness, chest pain, stroke signs, severe bleeding – call 112 immediately. The private medical on-call service RAB Berlin is intended only for acute but stable complaints and never replaces the ambulance service.
The four care routes in Berlin at a glance
Berlin operates a tiered emergency system with four clearly separated points of contact, and each serves a distinct purpose. The overview below matches situation, responsibility, and number:
| Situation | Right route | Number / contact |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency – shortness of breath, unconsciousness, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe bleeding | Ambulance service with emergency physician | 112 – free, around the clock |
| Serious but self-reachable complaints – deep cut, fracture, neurological assessment | Emergency room | go to hospital directly (drive yourself only if stable) |
| Acute but not life-threatening – fever, infection, gastrointestinal trouble, back pain outside office hours | Statutory medical on-call service | 116 117 – free, 24/7 |
| Fast, personal medical help at home, in the office or hotel | Private home visit (RAB Berlin) | 030 550 77 870 – daily 6 am–midnight |
When you must call 112 immediately
112 is the right choice whenever there is acute danger to life or it cannot be ruled out – in Berlin it dispatches the ambulance service with an ambulance and, if needed, an emergency physician. The number is valid nationwide and across Europe, is free of charge, and works on any mobile phone even without credit or a SIM card. With the following warning signs every minute counts – call 112 without hesitation:
- Unconsciousness or no response when spoken to.
- Suspected heart attack: persistent severe chest pain radiating into the arm, jaw, or back, with shortness of breath and cold sweat.
- Suspected stroke: sudden paralysis on one side of the body, drooping mouth, speech or vision disorders (FAST test: Face, Arms, Speech, Time).
- Severe shortness of breath that deteriorates rapidly – for example during an asthma attack or anaphylactic shock.
- Severe, uncontrollable bleeding after an accident or operation.
- Serious injuries after a fall from height, traffic accident, electrical accident, or large burn.
- Seizures that do not stop or occur for the first time.
- Severe allergic reactions or suspected poisoning.
For psychiatric emergencies involving danger to self or others, also call 112 or the police emergency number 110. A call to 112 does not automatically commit you to an ambulance deployment: the dispatchers in the control centre are trained to assess urgency over the phone and to arrange the right care if in doubt. The rule of thumb: better to call once too often than once too little.
How fast the ambulance service arrives in Berlin
The statutory response time in Berlin under the Berlin Rescue Services Act is generally eight minutes from the emergency call for life-threatening deployments. In practice the actual arrival time varies with traffic, time of day, and current call volume. State your exact location and the patient's condition on the phone so the dispatcher can prioritise correctly – and do not hang up until the control centre releases the call.
What to do until the ambulance arrives
After the emergency call you can provide decisive first aid until the ambulance service arrives – these minutes save lives. Follow the dispatcher's questions: where it happened, what happened, how many people are affected, which injuries, and wait for follow-up questions. Until help arrives:
- For unconsciousness with breathing: recovery position.
- For cardiac arrest: start chest compressions immediately, about 100–120 per minute.
- For severe bleeding: apply firm pressure to the wound.
- For shock: elevate the legs, keep the person warm, and reassure them.
Emergency room or emergency call – when do I drive myself?
Driving yourself to the emergency room makes sense only when your condition is stable and no deterioration is expected during the journey. The emergency room is designed for serious, acute cases with direct access to laboratory, CT, X-ray, and surgery. Typical reasons to visit the emergency room yourself are a deep cut that needs stitches, a fracture without visible deformity, or severe abdominal pain without signs of shock. If, however, there is danger to life or the condition could turn during the trip, never drive yourself – then 112 applies without exception.
The problem: Berlin emergency rooms are chronically overloaded. According to a report by the B.Z., out of roughly 1.2 million patients at Berlin hospital emergency departments, about 680,000 were sent home again without inpatient treatment – predominantly outpatient cases that were not genuine hospital emergencies. For exactly these patients, the on-call service and the medical home visit are the faster and more appropriate choice.
When the medical on-call service (116 117) is enough
The statutory medical on-call service under the nationwide number 116 117 is the right point of contact for acute but not life-threatening complaints outside office hours – free of charge and available around the clock. The control centre of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians assesses your symptoms and either arranges an appointment at an on-call practice or, for non-mobile patients, a mobile home-visit service. Typical cases for 116 117 are:
- High fever over several days, or severe flu or cold symptoms.
- Gastrointestinal complaints with vomiting or diarrhoea that are very unpleasant but stable.
- Ear, throat, or urinary tract infections that need prompt treatment.
- Back pain, migraine, or acute joint pain without neurological deficits.
- Sick note or prescription at the weekend.
If the phone call reveals that it is in fact a genuine emergency, the 116 117 control centre immediately alerts the ambulance service. Conversely, 112 refers non-urgent cases to 116 117 – the two systems work hand in hand. Those who are mobile are usually directed to a medical on-call practice: according to a patient survey, around 37 percent wait there less than 15 minutes, on average about 30 minutes – although it can be considerably longer depending on demand.
When a private home visit is the better choice
RAB Arztbesuche is a private medical on-call service that, for acute but stable complaints, sends a licensed physician directly to your home, office, or hotel daily from 6 am to midnight – usually within 60 to 90 minutes. The service closes the gap between an overcrowded emergency room and a closed family practice, without tying up emergency resources. Unlike anonymous call centres, at RAB you speak with medically trained, German- and English-speaking staff who clarify in advance whether a genuine emergency exists – and in that case explicitly refer you to 112.
On site, the RAB physicians carry out a full examination and, depending on the findings, can provide pain therapy, infusions, an ECG, laboratory analyses, prescriptions, and sick notes directly. Billing follows the German scale of medical fees (GOÄ): privately insured and civil-servant-aid patients are usually fully reimbursed, while self-payers typically pay between 150 and 300 euros – depending on the day, time, and scope of service. This makes the service especially suitable for families, elderly or immobile people, and international guests who want prompt help without a waiting room.
Frequently asked questions about medical emergencies in Berlin
Which number do I call in an emergency in Berlin?
For acute danger to life, always 112 – it dispatches the ambulance service with an emergency physician and is free, valid across Europe, and available around the clock. For acute but not life-threatening complaints outside office hours, 116 117 is responsible. If you want fast, personal help at home, you can reach RAB Berlin daily from 6 am to midnight on 030 550 77 870.
What happens if I call the wrong number?
No harm is done, because the control centres are networked. If you accidentally call 116 117 during a life-threatening emergency, the staff will ask you to call 112 immediately and alert the ambulance service themselves if needed. Conversely, the 112 control centre refers non-urgent cases to 116 117. RAB Berlin too clarifies in advance whether a genuine emergency exists and refers you to 112 if in doubt.
How fast does the ambulance arrive in Berlin?
The statutory response time in Berlin for life-threatening deployments is generally eight minutes; the actual time depends on traffic and call volume. A private home visit from RAB Berlin for non-life-threatening complaints usually takes place within 60 to 90 minutes – without drawing on the ambulance service.
May I call the emergency physician for severe pain?
Severe pain alone is not automatically an emergency – the accompanying symptoms are decisive. If shortness of breath, altered consciousness, neurological deficits, or circulatory problems also occur, call 112 immediately. For severe but stable pain without these warning signs – such as back, abdominal, or joint pain – the medical on-call service or a home visit is the right choice.
Does health insurance cover the costs?
Statutory health insurance covers the ambulance deployment (112) and the on-call home-visit service (116 117) when medically necessary. For the private service RAB it depends on your insurance: privately insured and civil-servant-aid patients are usually fully reimbursed for the GOÄ billing, while those with statutory insurance use RAB as self-payers.
When should I not hesitate to get help?
At any suspicion of danger to life you should never wait – an emergency call placed too late can cause permanent damage in the case of heart attack or stroke. If you are unsure whether an emergency exists, call 112 if in doubt; the trained control centre will make the assessment for you. For stable but urgent complaints, a medical assessment via the on-call service or a home visit is sensible before the condition worsens.
Do you need prompt medical help in Berlin and there is no life-threatening situation? You can reach the private medical on-call service RAB Berlin daily from 6 am to midnight on 030 550 77 870, or book your appointment directly online. For life-threatening emergencies, call only the emergency number 112.