Streetsmart - Top 10 Prague - page 133

Left Prague ambulance Centre Police sign Right Pharmacy sign

Security and Health

Emergency
Numbers
To call an ambulance, dial
155; for police, 158. In
the event of a fire, call
150. Speak slowly and
calmly and the operator
will understand you. You
may wish to carry your
embassy's phone
number with you as well.

uncommon to see a
smouldering waste bin,
where someone has
carelessly thrown a lit
cigarette. Don't worry -
someone will be along in
a minute with a bucket of
water to put it out.

charges should you fall
ill. Also be aware that
your medication may be
known by a different
name brand abroad. Your
doctor may also recom-
mend an inoculation
against hepatitis before
your trip, although this
isn't strictly necessary.

Dentists
Czech dental care is
considered among the
best in Europe. For
dental emergencies, call
2494 6981. For routine
care, try the English-
speaking dentists at the
American Dental Asso-
ciates or Millennium
Dental Care. d American
Dental Associates: V Celnicí
4; 221 181121 • Millennium
Dental Care: V Celnicí 10;
221 033405; [e-mail]

Pickpockets
Pickpockets target
tourists in crowded
spaces where they can
jostle you. Distribute
your valuables among
several inside pockets
and never carry more
cash than you need.
Leave photocopies of
your passport in your
hotel room.

Police
Prague's municipal
police are generally
helpful to (law-abiding)
visitors, although they
continue to be dogged
with accusations of
bribe-taking. Don't
confuse members of
private security services
and Prague Castle guards
for state or municipal
police officers.

Food and
Water Safety
The fat-heavy Czech diet
may cause indigestion,
so bring along your
favourite stomach-settler.
Tap water is safe to
drink, but even local
residents prefer bottled
water. The most dan-
gerous fluid in a city full
of bars is alcohol; watch
your intake - Czech beer
is stronger than a lot of
other varieties.

Pharmacies
For even such
common medicines as
aspirin or cold remedies,
you'll need to visit a
lékárna . A pharmacy at
the Kotva department
store is open at
weekends, but most are
closed. There are 24
other pharmacies
scattered around the city
and a 24-hour pharmacy
at Palackého. d 24-hour
pharmacy: Palackého 5; 224
946982 • Kotva: Nám∂stí
Republiky 8

Hospitals
Prague's doctors
increasingly speak
English and are accus-
tomed to western stan-
dards of care. Some
private clinics that cater
to foreigners, such as the
Canadian Medical Centre
have doctors on call 24
hours a day. Should you
need in-patient care, go
to the foreigners' clinic at
Na Homolce Hospital.
d Canadian Medical Centre:
Veleslavínská 1; 235 360133
• Na Homolce Hospital:
Roentgenova 2; 257 271111

Smoking
Second-hand smoke
is a fact of life in Prague.
Smoke-free restaurants
and cafés are rare. If
cigarettes aggravate your
health or enjoyment, be
sure to visit in summer,
when you can spend
more time outside and
breathe in fresher air.

Precautions
Consult a physician
before your trip and
check whether your
health insurance covers
you abroad. If it doesn't
be sure to take out extra
insurance to avoid high

Fire
If you need to report
a fire, simply dial 150 and
tell the operator what is
burning and where. In
the street, it's not

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