Emergencies in Sarajevo

Good to Know

• Save 122 (police), 123 (fire), and 124 (ambulance) directly — locals default to these rather than 112, so a Bosnian-speaking contact or clear location details help if you have to call yourself.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina has land mines remaining from the 1990s war in some rural/hillside areas outside city-maintained zones — stick to marked trails and paths, especially if hiking near Sarajevo.
• We could not confirm a single nationwide 'official' emergency safety app equivalent to what some other countries offer; the Sarajevo Canton emergency app found on Google Play appears community/cantonal rather than a heavily promoted official tool, so verify current reviews before relying on it.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina does not use the American-style Trauma Level I/II/III classification system — hospitals are instead classified as cantonal general hospitals or university clinical centers, with KCUS acting as the top-tier referral point for the most serious trauma and complex cases in the Sarajevo region.
• Public hospitals expect payment at the time of service for anyone without Bosnian health insurance, often in cash, though some accept cards — bring ID/passport and be prepared to pay upfront.
• KCUS runs a separate paid 'VIP Outpatient Unit' specifically for patients without BiH health insurance, which can be faster than the standard public queue.
• The two hospitals listed (KCUS/Koševo and the General Hospital at Marijin Dvor) are both centrally located and reachable within about 10 minutes of the city center by tram or taxi.