In an emergency (immediate danger to loss of life or limb), call 911. Be aware that if you call from a cell phone, 911 calls are currently directed to the California Highway Patrol, which can result in delays in contacting city police. (911 calls made from land-line telephones are directed to the appropriate local agency.) In many cases when within the city limits it may be more appropriate to directly dial the San Diego non-emergency number, (619) 531-2000. For example, to report a crime in progress when you are not in direct danger, it is probably best to call the San Diego Police (or other local municipality) directly.

Police-

San Diego is served by a professional police force as well as a county sheriff department, additional protection is offered on the major highways by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The San Diego Police Department website offers tips to locals and tourists on staying safe in San Diego.

Fire Department-

The city of San Diego fire department is a top rated service offering fire protection, emergency medical care, hazardous waste cleanup and search and rescue functions. If you dial 911 for an emergency it is guaranteed that the first responders will be the San Diego Fire Department.

Hospitals-

There are numerous public and private hospitals in San Diego. These range from state funded institutions such as UCSD-Hillcrest and Thorton to private world renowned hospitals of Scripps La Jolla and the Children's Hospital. First rate world class medical care can be found at any of these hospitals as well as interpreters for more than a dozen languages.

Beach Safety-

Rip currents are notorious in San Diego for their strength and sudden appearance. Do not go out in the water without lifeguard supervision or at night. All of the major beaches have lifeguards on duty in the summertime with only the more popular beaches having lifeguards year round. Many of the ocean cliffs are made of a compressed sandstone and are prone to collapse especially in rainy weather. Access to the beaches is safely made by using any of the public stairways provided, they are free and well maintained. Heavy rain may cause rising bacteria and chemical levels in the ocean waters. Care should be taken to read the newspapers or call the county health office to see if the water is safe for swimming.