What is the emergency number in the USA?

The emergency number in the USA is 911 – for police, fire and ambulance. Give the location of the emergency first, ideally with a street address.

Can I text 911 from a SIM card from home?

You should not rely on it. Text-to-911 is only available in certain areas, and Washington State points out explicitly that it does not work while roaming. Call 911 whenever you can.

What should I do if I lose my passport in the USA?

Report the loss to your country's embassy or consulate and to the police, and apply for a replacement Form I-94 if necessary. With a new passport, you will need a new ESTA for future trips.

ESTA INFORMATION

Emergencies in the USA: 911 and Other Important Numbers

The most important number first: 911 reaches police, fire and ambulance services — call rather than send a text. With a foreign SIM card on roaming, text-to-911 does not work in many places. Below are all the key emergency numbers and what to do if you lose your passport.

911: the emergency number for police, fire and ambulance

An emergency is any situation in which you need immediate help from the police, fire service or an ambulance. In that case:

Dial 911 immediately
Give the location of the emergency first, ideally with a street address
Stay on the line and answer the dispatcher’s questions

Call rather than text: Text-to-911 is only available in certain areas. Washington State points out explicitly that texting 911 does not work while roamingand is only available in English. The rule is: “Call if you can; text if you can't.” Availability differs by state and region.

Older 3G phones and some 4G devices without VoLTE cannot make calls in the USA — not even to 911. The US regulator, the FCC, advises international visitors to check this before they travel.

Other important numbers

988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call, text or chat with trained counsellors, 24 hours a day, free and confidential
1-800-222-1222 — Poison Help: if you suspect poisoning, call this number straight away; it connects you to your local poison centre
Life-threatening situation: always call 911 first

For what hospital treatment costs and what emergency departments must provide, see Doctors & hospitals in the USA.

Lost or stolen passport

According to the official USA.gov portal, you should take the following steps:

Report the loss or theft to your country’s embassy or consulate
Report the loss to the police
If necessary, apply for a replacement Form I-94

New passport = new ESTA: your ESTA authorisation is linked to your passport. If you are issued a new passport, you will need a new ESTA for future trips to the USA.

Embassy contacts in Washington, D.C.

Australia: Embassy +1 202 797 3000; after hours, the 24/7 Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305 — usa.embassy.gov.au
Ireland: Embassy +1 202 462 3939 (in emergencies, call this number; outside office hours, leave a message for the duty officer) — ireland.ie/en/usa/washington
New Zealand: Embassy email wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz; for urgent consular matters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on +64 4 439 8000 — mfat.govt.nz
Singapore: Embassy +1 202 537 3100; emergency contact +1 202 537 3100 ext. 140 — washington.mfa.gov.sg

Contact details checked on the official websites on 17 October 2026. Please confirm them on the embassy website before you travel.

Related information

USA travel guide

All practical topics at a glance

Doctors & hospitals

EMTALA, costs, insurance

Mobile phones & SIMs in the USA

3G shutdown, roaming, eSIM

Sources and currency of information

Last reviewed: 17 October 2026. This website is an independent information service and is not an official website of the US Government.

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