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EMERGENCIES |
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Despite exaggerated reports of football-related violence, you're
unlikely to encounter any trouble in Turkey, save for passport-related
crime. Violent street crime is uncommon, theft is rare and the
authorities usually treat tourists with courtesy. Keep your wits about
you and an eye on your belongings and you shouldn't have any problems.
The police come in a variety of subdivisions; all wear dark blue
uniforms with baseball caps, and have their division - trafik , narkotik
, etc - clearly marked. Confusingly, the Belediye Zabitas , a sort of
trading standards police, also wear dark blue, while in rural areas,
you'll find the camouflage-clad Jandarma , a division of the regular
army.
For minor health complaints head for the nearest eczane (pharmacy),
where you'll be able to obtain cheap remedies for ailments like
diarrhoea, sunburn and flu, though you may find it difficult to find
exact equivalents to any home prescriptions. Night-duty pharmacists are
known as nöbet(ci) ; a list of the current rota is posted in every
pharmacy's front window. For more serious ailments , your consulate or
the tourist office may be able to provide you with the address of an
English-speaking doctor. Otherwise it's best to go direct to a hospital
(klinik) - either public (Devlet Hastane or SSK Hastanesi) , or private
(Özel Hastane) . Private hospitals are far preferable in terms of
cleanliness and standard of care, and since all foreigners must pay for
medical attention, you might as well get the best available.
Warning
In recent years it's become clear that there's a thriving trade in
stolen British passports in Turkey, and it would appear that British
Asians are at particular risk of being robbed; several people have even
gone missing, and there's been at least one murder. You should exercise
caution, particularly in Istanbul, and particularly if you're travelling
alone.
Emergency numbers
Police 155; Ambulance 112; Fire 110
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