Emergency Services for Hydra Island Greece

As an island with a population of approx. 2,400, that swells to about 10,000 with seasonal workers and visitors during the high season, Hydra doesn't justify the level of emergency services that a large town on the mainland would. However, for such a tiny island, Hydra does have a lot more than you might expect.

Essential Emergency Numbers

Hydra Emergency Number: 199

International Emergency & Rescue: 112

1) Local Fire Station: +(30) 22980 53199

2) Coastguard (Port Police): +(30) 22980 52279

3) Police (Tourist/Island): +(30) 22980 52205

4) Hospital +(30) 22980 53150 & 53151

5) GP & First Aid: +(30) 22980 52420 & 29720

6) Pharmacy Mr Gavalas: +(30) 22980 53260

7) Pharmacy Mr Rafalias: +(30) 22980 52059

8) Zervos Dental Surgery: +(30) 22980 52566

9) Dentist Mr Grigoropoulos: +(30) 22980 53431

10) Looking Good Optics Optician +(30) 22980 29646

Fire is a major hazard on an island with no roads to reach the countryside. This is why it is prohibited to light cooking fires on the beaches or up in the mountains. The local volunteer emergency services coordinate the efforts of residents to try to tackle fires but water planes are called in if necessary.

Fire plane dropping water on a fire on Hydra Island Greece.

If you find a fire, get a safe distance away, dial 199 and then shout FIRE at the top of your voice, even in the countryside, when you think you're alone.

Please Read My CoVid Updates Before You Book Your Travel

As of the 15th May, 2021, Greece and therefore Hydra Island, reopened for tourism but with various restrictions which change almost weekly. Please check both my CoVid Alerts & Travel Requirements pages before you book your trip. And once you're on Hydra don't forget to book your return trip tests. If you develop symptoms while you are on the island Click Here for advice.

All CoVid Alerts

Travel Requirements

CoVid Tests - Book Here

Location map of emergency services for Hydra Island Greece

Hydra Volunteer Emergency Services

Please note that the 199 number goes straight through to the volunteer emergency services on Hydra, which is manned 24/7 year round. The volunteers help to coordinate in emergencies in case of fire or if someone gets lost or becomes ill out in the countryside or at a house and even help with accidents at sea. The phone is always answered within a couple of rings and they have people there who can speak English. - It is very reassuring to know we have such a good team on the island.

For Hikers & Walkers

It is vital, especially if you are out in the countryside alone, for you to have the international emergency 112 number programmed into your phone. If you get lost, especially in the heat of the summer, you should phone this number so that the emergency services can pinpoint your location via the GPS coordinates on your phone so they can find and rescue you. Don't wait until you collapse, everyone would rather help you to walk down rather than to have to retrieve you! (the 112 and 199 numbers work regardless of whether you can get a signal or not, and even if you have no credit on your phone.)

Hospital & Ambulance

Kolouros Private Non-emergency hospital on Hydra Island Greece

Tel: +(30) 22980 53150 & 53151

Open 24/7 - nurse on call for emergencies

Doctor/Path/X-ray Mon-Sat, 08:00 - 14:00

In case of emergency please call the Emergency Service number 112 or 199 first. Depending on the emergency they will coordinate with the hospital for you. If you are walking wounded, the duty nurse will get a doctor to you or arrange collection if necessary. If you are able to get to the hospital yourself, you will be seen immediately. Please note that this is a private charity hospital and doesn't have an accident & emergency ward.

The hospital treats visitors as well as local and well equipped and good at stabilizing patients for transport. If surgery is needed or your condition needs intensive care, evacuation to a mainland hospital will be arranged. Please note that you will have to pay for x-rays (€25) and any drugs prescribed. (You will have to go to the pharmacy to buy them.)

Emergency Helicopter: One of Hydra's much appreciated benefactors provides the island with a medical emergency helicopter that can be used by the hospital. It is the only helicopter with permission to land on Hydra at the football ground. There is a limit to the number of charitable evacuations possible and so they are kept for dire circumstances.

Doctors Surgery and First Aid on Hydra Island Greece

Doctors Surgery & First Aid

Tel: +(30) 22980 52420 & 29720

Mon - Friday 08:30 - 13:30

Sat: 09:00 - 13:00

Out of hours, phone the hospital if necessary.

First Aid Centre with two doctors on hand for non-emergency illness, cuts & scratches etc. There is no charge for the services given to visitors who need to attend (although you will have to pay for any drugs prescribed or for an x-ray at the hospital). Both doctors, a husband and wife team, speak English. Hydra is their home and they have young children and so they are particularly lovely with anxious parents travelling with youngsters.

Dentists

Zervos Dental Practice, Tel: +(30) 22980 52566

Mr Grigoropoulos, Tel: +(30) 22980 53431

There are two dental practices on Hydra. Mr Zervos lives and has a full time practice on the island and is happy to take emergency patients. His daughter Irini is also an excellent dentist and speaks English.

Mr Grigoropoulos has a part-time surgery and specialises in cosmetic dentistry.

You need to make an appointment to see either dentist but in an emergency such as a broken tooth or a filling that needs replacing, Mr Zervos is probably the first person to call.

Pharmacies

Mr Panagiotis Gavalas, Tel: +(30) 22980 53260

Mr Vangelis Rafalias, Tel: +(30) 22980 52059

Normal hours Monday - Saturday 08:30-14:00, 18:00 - 20:00. Out of hours the pharmacies take it in turns to be open.

There are two pharmacies on the island both of which can give you advice and are able to dispense drugs.

If they don't hold the particular medicine you require, it can normally be brought to Hydra within 24 hours, which is useful if you forget to bring your medicine with you!

Police

Tel: +(30) 22980 52205 (24/7)

The Police on Hydra are known as the Tourist Police, to differentiate between the Port Police. The Tourist Police have responsibility for any matter OFF the actual port front.

The Tourist Police deal with any problems you encounter including theft of belongings while you're on the island or to report a crime, etc. It must be said that compared with other countries and holiday destinations, Hydra is one of the safest and crime free places to be as a resident or visitor.

This is where you need to go to report animal abuse and you must visit here to report lost passports, etc. It is also recommended that if you find something, you take it to the police station. And if you lose something, try here first.

Hellenic Coastguard (Port Police)

Tel: +(30) 22980 52279 (24/7)

The Hellenic Coast Guard are known locally on Hydra as the Port Police and have jurisdiction over the boats, level area of the port and comings and goings of the harbour.

If anyone gets into difficulty on the sea or beaches, the Port Police are who you need to call. They also control the sea taxis, port mules and beach boats.

The port police are always easy to identify because they are always in uniform and at least one is in attendance for the arrival and departure of the Hellenic Cats & Dolphins.

Photos of them in uniform are not allowed.

Which police station to go to causes even local Hydriot's a bit of confusion at times. If it is a problem on the sea, then it's the Hellenic Coastguard's responsibility (Port Police). It is also their responsibility to deal with any problems arising on the harbour front. As soon as you step off the harbour, then the problem falls under the jurisdiction of the Police (Tourist or Town Police). As an example, let's say you are sitting outside one of the port cafes and you have a dispute with someone sitting at the table next to you, or your belonging were stolen, while you are outside - then it is the Port Police (Hellenic Coast Guard) who has jurisdiction. But if you are inside the cafe and the problem arises, then you are off the harbour and it becomes an issue for the (Tourist) Police.

FIRE!

Throughout Greece, especially in the height of summer, fire is a major concern. Hydra does have a volunteer fire brigade that is manned 24/7 and they have a fire truck but this isn't effective if a fire breaks out at the top of the mountains as there are no roads! If it's impossible to reach with the fire truck, the volunteers and many locals who always help, have to run and manually throw buckets of water and take action to put the fire out with none of the aids that most places take for granted. If a fire can't be contained and dealt with locally, the authorities will call in the fire planes which fly low over the sea, scoop water into their holds and then dump it on the fire. Obviously if this can be avoided it is preferred as it does nearly as much damage as the fire!

If you discover a fire you should, yell FIRE at the TOP OF YOUR VOICE and tackle it only if it doesn't pose a personal risk. If you have a mobile phone, even in areas that say no signal you will still be able to dial the Emergency Number 199. If you do have a signal you should also dial the local number +(30) 22980 53199 to ensure the alarm is raised as quickly as possible. If you're in a remote part of the island without a phone, get back to the town as fast as possible and tell everyone you meet en-route. A local person will hear you and will immediately alert the authorities and raise the alarm. Everyone takes an outbreak of fire very seriously. The islanders will take over and know where the fire hydrants are etc.

If you are a smoker, PLEASE make sure that you put out your cigarette completely especially if you are walking in the countryside. In fact, be like me and take a small tin with you so you have a portable ashtray. If it's windy, then please don't smoke in the countryside at all especially in the high season and autumn when the ground is covered with dry grass as it only takes one small ember to start a huge fire. Please remember that we lost some of Hydra's sons during a fire not so long ago - think how bad you would feel if you were responsible for starting one! Also it's polite not to litter the place.

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