Spanish for Medical Emergencies: Police Field Guide (A2/B1)
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⏱️ Reading time: 10 minutes | 🧠 Quiz: 10 minutes
Medical emergencies are among the most time-sensitive and high-stakes situations officers face. When responding to overdoses, injuries, mental health crises, or medical distress, clear communication can save lives. This guide covers emergency assessment, injury descriptions, overdose response, ambulance coordination, and mental health crisis intervention. It is designed for American police officers who need practical, ready-to-use Spanish for medical emergencies.
🎯 In this guide, you will learn:
- How to ask about injuries, pain, and medical history
- Emergency commands for bleeding, breathing, and consciousness
- Overdose response phrases (including naloxone/Narcan)
- How to request an ambulance and give location details
- Mental health crisis de-escalation phrases
- How to ask about allergies, medications, and medical conditions
- Real conversation scripts for medical emergency scenes
Initial Assessment: What Happened?
Use these phrases immediately upon arrival at a medical emergency.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué pasó? | What happened? |
| ¿Dónde le duele? | Where does it hurt? |
| ¿Desde cuándo le duele? | How long has it been hurting? |
| ¿Puede respirar? | Can you breathe? |
| ¿Está consciente? | Are you conscious? |
| ¡Abra los ojos! | Open your eyes! |
| ¿Puede oírme? | Can you hear me? |
| ¿Cómo se llama? | What is your name? |
| ¿Sabe dónde está? | Do you know where you are? |
| ¿Qué día es hoy? | What day is it today? |
💡 Triage Note: If the person is unconscious, check for breathing and pulse immediately. Use “¡Abra los ojos!” loudly. If no response, call for an ambulance and begin CPR if trained.
Asking About Injuries and Pain
Get specific details about injuries.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Le duele aquí? | Does it hurt here? |
| ¿Tiene sangrado? | Are you bleeding? |
| ¿Dónde está sangrando? | Where are you bleeding? |
| ¿Puede mover los brazos? | Can you move your arms? |
| ¿Puede mover las piernas? | Can you move your legs? |
| ¿Puede ponerse de pie? | Can you stand up? |
| ¿Tiene mareos? | Are you dizzy? |
| ¿Ve borroso? | Is your vision blurry? |
| ¿Tiene náuseas? | Are you nauseous? |
| ¿Ha vomitado? | Have you vomited? |
Pain Scale (Use fingers or numbers)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Del cero al diez, ¿cuánto le duele? | From zero to ten, how much does it hurt? |
| Cero es nada de dolor. | Zero is no pain. |
| Diez es el peor dolor imaginable. | Ten is the worst pain imaginable. |
| Señale con el dedo. | Point with your finger. |
| ¿Dónde está el dolor? | Where is the pain? |
Overdose Response
Opioid overdoses are a common medical emergency for law enforcement. Use these phrases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué tomó? | What did you take? |
| ¿Cuánto tomó? | How much did you take? |
| ¿Tomó heroína? | Did you take heroin? |
| ¿Tomó fentanilo? | Did you take fentanyl? |
| ¿Tomó pastillas? ¿Qué pastillas? | Did you take pills? What pills? |
| ¿Tomó alcohol también? | Did you drink alcohol too? |
| ¿Respira? | Are you breathing? |
| ¡Necesita respirar! | You need to breathe! |
| Le voy a administrar Narcan. | I am going to administer Narcan. |
| El Narcan le ayudará a respirar. | Narcan will help you breathe. |
| Quédese despierto. | Stay awake. |
| No se duerma. | Don’t fall asleep. |
| La ambulancia viene en camino. | The ambulance is on the way. |
⚠️ Safety Note: Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids can be absorbed through skin or inhalation. Wear gloves and avoid touching powder. If you feel dizzy or have trouble breathing after exposure, tell your partner immediately.
Medical History and Conditions
Ask about pre-existing conditions before administering aid or moving the person.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Tiene alguna condición médica? | Do you have any medical condition? |
| ¿Es diabético? | Are you diabetic? |
| ¿Tiene epilepsia o convulsiones? | Do you have epilepsy or seizures? |
| ¿Tiene presión alta? | Do you have high blood pressure? |
| ¿Tiene problemas del corazón? | Do you have heart problems? |
| ¿Tiene asma? | Do you have asthma? |
| ¿Está embarazada? | Are you pregnant? |
| ¿Ha tenido un ataque al corazón? | Have you had a heart attack? |
| ¿Ha tenido un derrame cerebral? | Have you had a stroke? |
Allergies and Medications
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento? | Are you allergic to any medication? |
| ¿Es alérgico a la penicilina? | Are you allergic to penicillin? |
| ¿Toma algún medicamento? | Do you take any medication? |
| ¿Qué medicamentos toma? | What medications do you take? |
| ¿Tiene las pastillas con usted? | Do you have the pills with you? |
| ¿Cuándo tomó su última dosis? | When did you take your last dose? |
Emergency Commands
Clear, direct commands for life-threatening situations.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¡Tranquilo! ¡Cálmese! | Calm down! |
| Respire profundo. | Breathe deeply. |
| Respire lentamente. | Breathe slowly. |
| Acuéstese. | Lie down. |
| Recuéstese de lado. | Lie on your side. |
| No se mueva. | Don’t move. |
| Espere aquí. | Wait here. |
| La ayuda viene en camino. | Help is on the way. |
| Voy a ayudarle. | I am going to help you. |
CPR Commands (If trained and necessary)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Sabe hacer RCP? | Do you know CPR? |
| Empuje fuerte y rápido en el pecho. | Push hard and fast on the chest. |
| Al ritmo de la canción “Stayin’ Alive”. | To the rhythm of the song “Stayin’ Alive”. |
| Después de 30 compresiones, dé dos respiraciones. | After 30 compressions, give two breaths. |
Calling for Ambulance
You may need to call dispatch or direct someone else to call 911. Use these phrases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Llame una ambulancia. | Call an ambulance. |
| Necesitamos una ambulancia urgentemente. | We need an ambulance urgently. |
| La persona no respira. | The person is not breathing. |
| La persona está inconsciente. | The person is unconscious. |
| Hay sangrado severo. | There is severe bleeding. |
| La persona puede tener una sobredosis. | The person may have overdosed. |
| La dirección es… | The address is… |
| Estamos en la esquina de… | We are at the corner of… |
| ¿Cuánto tiempo tardará la ambulancia? | How long will the ambulance take? |
Bleeding and Wound Care
For traumatic injuries with bleeding.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Está sangrando mucho. | You are bleeding a lot. |
| Presione aquí con fuerza. | Press here firmly. |
| Levante el brazo / la pierna. | Raise your arm / leg. |
| Voy a poner un torniquete. | I am going to apply a tourniquet. |
| Esto va a doler un poco. | This is going to hurt a little. |
| La ambulancia llegará pronto. | The ambulance will arrive soon. |
| Siga presionando. No quite la presión. | Keep pressing. Don’t remove the pressure. |
Mental Health Crisis
De-escalation and assessment for mental health emergencies.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Estoy aquí para ayudarle. | I am here to help you. |
| ¿Quiere hacerse daño? | Do you want to hurt yourself? |
| ¿Quiere lastimar a alguien más? | Do you want to hurt someone else? |
| ¿Tiene un arma? | Do you have a weapon? |
| ¿Ha tomado algo? | Have you taken anything? |
| ¿Escucha voces? | Do you hear voices? |
| ¿Ve cosas que otros no ven? | Do you see things others don’t see? |
| ¿Tiene un psiquiatra o terapeuta? | Do you have a psychiatrist or therapist? |
| Vamos a llevarle a un lugar seguro. | We are going to take you to a safe place. |
| No está en problemas. Solo queremos ayudarle. | You are not in trouble. We just want to help you. |
💡 De-escalation Tip: Speak slowly and calmly. Keep your hands visible. Give the person space. Repeat their name if you know it. Avoid sudden movements.
Pediatric Emergencies
When the patient is a child.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde le duele al niño? | Where does the child hurt? |
| ¿Qué le pasó a su hijo? | What happened to your child? |
| ¿Su hijo tiene alguna condición médica? | Does your child have any medical condition? |
| ¿Su hijo toma algún medicamento? | Does your child take any medication? |
| ¿Es alérgico a algo? | Is he/she allergic to anything? |
| ¿Quiere que llame a alguien por usted? | Do you want me to call someone for you? |
| La ambulancia viene para su hijo. | The ambulance is coming for your child. |
Practice Exercise: Translate to Spanish
Test yourself. Answers are below.
- “Where does it hurt? Can you breathe?”
- “What did you take? How much did you take?”
- “I am going to administer Narcan. It will help you breathe.”
- “Do you have any medical conditions? Are you diabetic?”
- “Are you allergic to any medication? What medications do you take?”
- “Stay awake. Don’t fall asleep. The ambulance is on the way.”
- “Lie on your side. Don’t move. Help is on the way.”
- “The person is not breathing. We need an ambulance urgently.”
- “I am here to help you. Do you want to hurt yourself?”
- “Press here firmly. Keep pressing. Don’t remove the pressure.”
Answers
| # | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | ¿Dónde le duele? ¿Puede respirar? |
| 2 | ¿Qué tomó? ¿Cuánto tomó? |
| 3 | Le voy a administrar Narcan. Le ayudará a respirar. |
| 4 | ¿Tiene alguna condición médica? ¿Es diabético? |
| 5 | ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento? ¿Qué medicamentos toma? |
| 6 | Quédese despierto. No se duerma. La ambulancia viene en camino. |
| 7 | Recuéstese de lado. No se mueva. La ayuda viene en camino. |
| 8 | La persona no respira. Necesitamos una ambulancia urgentemente. |
| 9 | Estoy aquí para ayudarle. ¿Quiere hacerse daño? |
| 10 | Presione aquí con fuerza. Siga presionando. No quite la presión. |
Common Mistakes Officers Make
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| “¿Dónde está el dolor?” | “¿Dónde le duele?” | First phrase is grammatical but awkward. Second is natural and clear. |
| “¿Tiene alergias?” | “¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?” | “Alergias” is understood, but “alérgico a algún medicamento” is more specific for emergency care. |
| “No duermas” | “No se duerma” | Informal command (“duermas”) is disrespectful. Use formal “se duerma.” |
| “Tranquilo” (alone) | “¡Tranquilo! ¡Cálmese!” | “Tranquilo” alone can sound dismissive. Add “cálmese” (calm down) for clarity. |
| “¿Qué pasó?” only | “¿Qué pasó? ¿Dónde le duele?” | “¿Qué pasó?” is good, but follow immediately with injury-specific questions. |
Real Conversations: Medical Emergency Scenarios
Conversation 1: Overdose Response
Officer: ¿Qué pasó? ¿Está consciente?
Bystander: No responde. No se despierta.
Officer: ¿Qué tomó? ¿Sabe qué tomó?
Bystander: Creo que fue heroína.
Officer: ¿Respira? ¡Abra los ojos!
(Officer checks for breathing)
Officer: No respira bien. Llame una ambulancia. ¡Necesitamos Narcan!
Officer to victim: Le voy a administrar Narcan. Le ayudará a respirar. Quédese despierto. No se duerma.
(Officer administers Narcan)
Officer: Respire profundo. La ambulancia viene en camino.
Victim: (starts breathing more normally)
Officer: Así es. Siga respirando. La ayuda está aquí.
Translation:
Officer: What happened? Are you conscious?
Bystander: He’s not responding. He won’t wake up.
Officer: What did he take? Do you know what he took?
Bystander: I think it was heroin.
Officer: Is he breathing? Open your eyes!
Officer: He’s not breathing well. Call an ambulance. We need Narcan!
Officer to victim: I am going to administer Narcan. It will help you breathe. Stay awake. Don’t fall asleep.
Officer: Breathe deeply. The ambulance is on the way.
Victim: (starts breathing more normally)
Officer: That’s it. Keep breathing. Help is here.
Conversation 2: Injury from Fall
Officer: ¿Qué pasó? ¿Dónde le duele?
Victim: Me caí de las escaleras. Me duele la pierna.
Officer: ¿Puede mover la pierna?
Victim: No, me duele mucho.
Officer: ¿Tiene sangrado? ¿Ve sangre?
Victim: No, pero no puedo moverla.
Officer: No se mueva. La ambulancia viene en camino. ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?
Victim: No, ninguna alergia.
Officer: ¿Tiene alguna condición médica? ¿Es diabético?
Victim: Soy diabético. Necesito mi insulina.
Officer: ¿Dónde está su insulina? Voy a buscarla.
Victim: En mi mochila.
Officer: Ya llegó la ambulancia. Van a cuidarle.
Translation:
Officer: What happened? Where does it hurt?
Victim: I fell down the stairs. My leg hurts.
Officer: Can you move your leg?
Victim: No, it hurts a lot.
Officer: Are you bleeding? Do you see blood?
Victim: No, but I can’t move it.
Officer: Don’t move. The ambulance is on the way. Are you allergic to any medication?
Victim: No, no allergies.
Officer: Do you have any medical conditions? Are you diabetic?
Victim: I am diabetic. I need my insulin.
Officer: Where is your insulin? I will get it.
Victim: In my backpack.
Officer: The ambulance has arrived. They are going to take care of you.
Conversation 3: Mental Health Crisis
Officer: Hola, soy oficial de policía. Estoy aquí para ayudarle. ¿Cómo se llama?
Person: (visibly distressed, not responding)
Officer: ¿Puede oírme? ¿Cómo se llama?
Person: Alejandra. Váyase. Déjeme sola.
Officer: Alejandra, no voy a lastimarla. Solo quiero ayudarle. ¿Quiere hacerse daño?
Person: No sé. Tal vez.
Officer: ¿Tiene un arma? ¿Tiene algo con que lastimarse?
Person: Tengo pastillas.
Officer: ¿Qué pastillas? ¿Cuántas tomó?
Person: No he tomado ninguna todavía.
Officer: ¿Me da las pastillas, por favor? Queremos ayudarle. Vamos a llevarle a un lugar seguro.
Person: (hands over pills)
Officer: Gracias. Hizo lo correcto. La ambulancia viene en camino. ¿Tiene un psiquiatra o terapeuta?
Person: Sí, tengo una terapeuta.
Officer: ¿Puede decirme su nombre? Podemos llamarla.
Translation:
Officer: Hello, I am a police officer. I am here to help you. What is your name?
Person: (visibly distressed, not responding)
Officer: Can you hear me? What is your name?
Person: Alejandra. Go away. Leave me alone.
Officer: Alejandra, I am not going to hurt you. I just want to help you. Do you want to hurt yourself?
Person: I don’t know. Maybe.
Officer: Do you have a weapon? Do you have anything to hurt yourself with?
Person: I have pills.
Officer: What pills? How many did you take?
Person: I haven’t taken any yet.
Officer: Will you give me the pills, please? We want to help you. We are going to take you to a safe place.
Person: (hands over pills)
Officer: Thank you. You did the right thing. The ambulance is on the way. Do you have a psychiatrist or therapist?
Person: Yes, I have a therapist.
Officer: Can you tell me her name? We can call her.
Quick Reference: Emergency Assessment Mnemonic (SAMPLE)
Use this mnemonic to remember what to ask in a medical emergency.
| Letter | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| S | Signs/Symptoms (what do you feel?) | ¿Qué siente? ¿Dónde le duele? |
| A | Allergies (any allergies?) | ¿Es alérgico a algo? |
| M | Medications (what do you take?) | ¿Qué medicamentos toma? |
| P | Past medical history (diabetes, seizures, etc.) | ¿Tiene alguna condición médica? |
| L | Last meal (when did you last eat/drink?) | ¿Cuándo comió o bebió por última vez? |
| E | Events leading up to this (what happened?) | ¿Qué pasó? |
Ready to Test Your Medical Emergency Spanish?
Think you’ve mastered medical emergency phrases? Test your skills with our interactive quiz.
🧠 ➡️ Take the Spanish Medical Emergencies Quiz
🚑 Medical Emergencies Spanish: Frequently Asked Questions
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- Spanish for Consent to Search
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