💡 112 is the single emergency number in Poland; there are also 997 (police), 998 (fire), 999 (ambulance). The dispatcher asks where and what happened; wait for questions and don't hang up first.
💡 Useful words: nieprzytomny (unconscious), nie oddycha (not breathing), zawał (heart attack), pogotowie (ambulance), karetka (ambulance car).
💡 A witness to an accident phones 112, states the place and the number of injured, stays on site and does not switch off the phone until the dispatcher says so.
💡 If a child has swallowed something dangerous, phone 112: give the child's age, what it was and how much; do not induce vomiting without advice.
💡 If you smell gas: do not switch on lights, do not use the doorbell or open flames, open windows, leave the building and phone the pogotowie gazowe (gas emergency service, number 992) or 112 from outside.
💡 In case of a break-in phone 997 or 112; don't touch anything until they arrive so you don't destroy traces; then you file a zawiadomienie (report) with the police.
💡 For a report (zawiadomienie o popełnieniu przestępstwa) bring ID; you describe what happened, when, where and what is missing; you sign the report and get a potwierdzenie (confirmation).
💡 In a check calmly show the prawo jazdy (driving licence), dowód rejestracyjny (registration document) and polisa OC; answer politely and follow instructions.
💡 If your bike is stolen, file a zawiadomienie (report) with the police: you need the confirmation for the insurance; keep the frame number (numer ramy) together with the receipt.
💡 Lost items are taken by the city's or voivodeship's Biuro Rzeczy Znalezionych (lost property office); you can also submit a request online; describe the item, colour and place.
💡 To block a card (zastrzeżenie karty) phone the bank's hotline or use the banking app; blocking is immediate and free; afterwards file a report with the police.
💡 Loss of a passport is reported to the police and to your country's consulate; the document can be zastrzec (blocked) on the site dokumentyzastrzezone.pl so that nobody uses it.
💡 If your phone is stolen, block the SIM card with your provider straight away, change your passwords and report it to the police; you can usually keep your number on a new card.
💡 Useful words: karetka (ambulance), pierwsza pomoc (first aid), apteczka (first-aid kit), spokojnie (calmly); police and ambulance have a dispatcher who will guide you by phone.
💡 After a minor collision drivers exchange details (name, plate, policy) and fill in an oświadczenie sprawcy kolizji (the culprit's statement); in case of doubt or injury the police are called.
💡 After an accident witnesses are asked to stay: Czy może pan/pani zostać jako świadek? Their details are noted; it is important for the police.
💡 After a minor accident exchange names, addresses and OC (liability) insurance details; if there are injuries or a dispute, call the police or an ambulance.
💡 Real police never ask you to hand over money, transfer it or give a BLIK code. Hang up, tell nobody your PIN and codes and phone 997 or 112.
💡 In case of fraud (oszustwo) block your card, keep emails and screenshots, file a report with the police or online; the sooner, the better the chance of getting money back.
💡 A bank never asks for your PIN, BLIK code or password in a message or on the phone; if you get a suspicious message, do not open the link but phone the bank at the number on your card.