Common question · Emergency
What to do in a medical emergency at night?
Read: 5 minUpdated: 2026-07-02
Quick answer
At night, first assess severity. For a life-threatening danger (chest pain, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty, accident), immediately call 141 (SAMU) or 150. For a non-life-threatening emergency, a private ambulance or a home doctor can respond. In Marrakech, SAMU Marrakech answers 24/7.
First: is the situation life-threatening?
The first question at night is always the same: is there an immediate life-threatening risk? Some signs are not up for debate — intense chest pain, loss of consciousness, major breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, sudden paralysis or speech disturbance (stroke signs), serious accident. In these cases, dial 141 (SAMU) or 150 (Civil Protection) without waiting: these are the public services built for life-threatening emergencies. Do not waste time looking for another solution. Meanwhile, keep the person calm and stay on the line to follow instructions.
Non-life-threatening emergency: private ambulance or home doctor
Not every night-time situation is life-threatening. A high fever, an unusual but bearable pain, an elderly person who cannot travel, a sick tourist at their hotel: here, a home doctor or a private ambulance is often the best answer. You avoid a painful trip to a crowded ER and get a medical opinion on the spot. In Marrakech, SAMU Marrakech coordinates the response at night, in the Medina as in Gueliz, Hivernage or the Palmeraie, and refers you to a clinic if needed.
When to go straight to the ER
Sometimes going to the hospital ER yourself makes sense: if the person is transportable without risk, conscious and stable, and you have a vehicle, an emergency department has technical facilities (imaging, surgery) no home can match. However, if transport is dangerous or the condition could worsen on the way, it is better to call an ambulance than to drive yourself. When in doubt, describe the situation by phone: the coordination will guide you to the best option.
Preparing the night-time call
At night, every minute counts. Keep handy: the SAMU Marrakech number (+212 625 55 86 87), the exact address with a landmark (in the Medina, the derb, the riad name, the nearest gate), the list of treatments and known allergies. Light the entrance, send someone to guide the team, keep the phone charged and reachable. Save our contact before you need it: searching for a number in the middle of the night, under stress, wastes precious time.
Related questions
For a life-threatening emergency (chest pain, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty, accident), dial 141 (SAMU) or 150 (Civil Protection). These are the public services built for these situations.