Universal: 112 (police/fire/ambulance/coast guard). App 112 Suomi shares GPS auto. Roadside: Autoliitto 0200-8080 (ARC Europe reciprocity with ADAC/RAC/etc.). Coast guard: Rajavartiolaitos (Border Guard) via 112.
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112: universal EU standard
112 is the emergency number in Finland, same as EU/EEA. Operated by Hatakeskuslaitos (Emergency Response Centre Agency). Free from:
- Any phone (landline or mobile)
- Mobile without SIM
- Without carrier coverage (uses any available network)
Operators speak Finnish, Swedish, and fluent English. Translation service in 30+ languages including French, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese. In emergency, start in English.
Coverage: police (poliisi), fire (pelastuslaitos), ambulance (ambulanssi), coast guard (Rajavartiolaitos), mountain rescue.
112 Suomi app: essential in remote areas
The 112 Suomi app is one of the most-used emergency tools in Finland - 40% of adults have it installed. Benefits:
- Automatic GPS location sharing when calling 112
- Critical for Lapland/remote areas where addresses are approximate
- Notifications for nearby emergencies (fires, floods, storms)
- Available in English, free download
- Multi-language operators supported
Recommended for visitors: install before entering Finland, especially if visiting Lapland or driving E75 north.
Specialist numbers
116 117: Medical advice (non-emergency)
For non-urgent medical questions. Equivalent to Denmark’s 1813 or UK’s 111.
0200-8080: Autoliitto roadside assistance
Free with ARC Europe member card (ADAC, RAC, AA, M Sverige, NAF, FDM, PZM, RACE reciprocity). Otherwise pay-per-service.
0200-3000: Falck Finland
Danish Falck also operates in Finland. Similar pricing to Autoliitto.
020 400 400: Auto-Vartia
Insurance-linked roadside assistance popular in Finland.
Rajavartiolaitos: unique coast guard + border model
Finland has 1,340 km of Baltic Sea coast plus 1,300 km of Russian border. Rajavartiolaitos (Finnish Border Guard) uniquely combines:
- Maritime coast guard (search and rescue at sea)
- Border control with Russia and Sweden
- Airspace surveillance
- Anti-smuggling operations
Activated via 112. Uses helicopters + fast patrol vessels. Coverage: Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Bothnia, Åland archipelago. Inland: Lake Saimaa (4th largest lake in Europe).
Unlike Denmark’s SOK (pure Navy) or Sweden’s SSRS (civilian volunteers), Finland’s model is a hybrid of military coast guard + border police - reflecting the strategic importance of the Russian border.
Poison control: Myrkytystietokeskus
09 471 977 (24/7). National poison information centre. Consultations for child poisoning, poisonous mushrooms (Finnish forest mushroom season), snake bites (only viper in Finland).
Breakdown protocol
- Stop on hard shoulder with 4-way flashers
- Set warning triangle 100m behind
- Wear reflective vest
- Exit on non-traffic side
- Move behind barrier
- 112 only if injury/danger
- Winter: keep engine off but stay warm (hypothermia risk if remote)
Winter breakdown in Lapland (-20°C or colder) is life-threatening if unprepared. Blankets, food, water, phone charger essential in trunk Dec-Feb.
Falck and Autoliitto: dual providers
Finland is unique in having both Danish Falck operating alongside the domestic Autoliitto. Falck operates ambulances in several regions. Autoliitto focuses on roadside assistance and consumer advocacy.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in Finland
Your EHIC covers:
- **Emergency hospital care**: charged at the same client fees a resident pays. Public-healthcare client fees count towards an annual ceiling of €815 in 2026.
- **Ambulance**: not free. An EHIC gives you care on the same terms as a resident, which means the same client fees. Kela reimburses an ambulance ride only if a healthcare professional certifies it was necessary, and you pay a copayment of up to €25 per one-way trip (€50 return), capped at €300 of travel copayments per calendar year.
- Prescription medications: partially subsidized
Not covered: repatriation flights, non-emergency dental, private hospitals (rare in Finland; system 95% public).
Official sources
- 112.fi: 112.fi/en
- Rajavartiolaitos: raja.fi/en
- Autoliitto: autoliitto.fi
- Myrkytystietokeskus: myrkytystietokeskus.fi
Related topics: Finland
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