Emergency Numbers

911 works everywhere in Mexico, from a Mexican mobile or a landline, and covers police, fire and ambulance. Baja California operators can usually route you to someone who speaks English, though it may take a moment.

Say where you are in terms a local dispatcher will recognise: the campo name, the kilometre marker on the Mexicali highway, the nearest cross street. A US-style street address often means nothing here.

A US mobile roaming in Mexico will normally reach 911, but the call goes through the Mexican network, so do not assume it lands with your home emergency service.

For roadside trouble on the highway, the Ángeles Verdes (Green Angels) are a free federal patrol service. Dial 078.

San Felipe's municipal police can also be reached directly, though 911 is faster in a real emergency.

One thing worth knowing before you need it: emergency medical capacity in San Felipe is limited, and serious cases are usually transferred to Mexicali, roughly two hours away. If someone in your household has a condition that could turn into an emergency, work out that plan on a calm afternoon rather than at two in the morning.