Useful information in case of an emergency at sea or near the beach 
In the event of an emergency you may not be able to access this information online, so you may wish to consider making a note of what follows.

Introduction
You may get through to people who cannot understand English very well.  Unless you are fluent in Turkish we strongly advise you to have the contact details of a local Turkish friend or acquaintance who would be your first port of call in an emergency. 

If you are visiting Kalkan as part of a package holiday you should have emergency contact details for your holiday representative.

We recommend putting important numbers in your mobile phone and also having a separate written note of them just in case your mobile is lost or stolen.  Please note that the number below can be dialled from all mobiles or land lines. 

The number you need to call - 112
In Antalya province, (which of course includes Kaş and Kalkan), since 2009, the 112 number has been used as a central switchboard, for all emergency services.  This works just like the 999 service in the UK.  It's the only number you need to know.

Coast Guard  Phone 158
If there is a problem at sea, call the coast guard on the above emergency number.

If on the beach, from the start of the 2011 season, the Kalkan Belediye introduced life saving equipment, and a life guard, by the town beach.  You can raise help at the Pinar Büfe cafe, behind the town beach.

Other beaches in the area, including Kaputaş andf Patara, do not have a life guard.  In season, during the day, there is usually a Jandarma stationed at the top of the steps at Kaputaş beach.  In Patara, at the southern end of the beach (where the cafe and sunbeds are), you can raise the alarm at the cafe, during the main tourist season.

Also please see our article on medical emergencies.

Advice

• If you are going in the sea to swim or on a boat, always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, so that if you don't return the alarm can be raised.
• If you are in a small fun craft such as a pedalo, the advice is to stay close to shore in the area advised to you by the hire company.
• If swimming in the sea, know your limitations and find out about local hazards, such as strong currents, before you take to the water.  If there is a clearly marked area for swimming, stick to it.
• Never swim immediately after eating, and remember that drinking alcohol and swimming is never a good combination.
• If you see others in danger in the water do not risk your own safety by, particularly if you are not a strong swimmer.
• If you are allowed to take a boat out on your own you must have at least the basic relevant qualifications, so you should already know what to do in the event of an emergency.  Be aware that the local Coastguard may ask to see your qualifications whilst you are out on the water.

Some excellent advice can be found in these two RNLI documents.  Whilst they are written with UK locations in mind, much of the advice works in Turkey too, although there are no standard danger or warning flags in this part of Turkey, and clearly 999 won't work over here. 

RNLI Seaside Safety Guide

RNLI Beach Safety Information

Useful words and phrases
Hello. I have a problem. = Merhaba. Problemim var.
Help! = Imdat!
Can you help me? = Yardım edebilir misiniz?
I need the coastguard. = Sahil güvenlik istiyorum.
I don’t know where my wife is. = Eşim nerede bilmiyorum.
I don’t know where my husband is. = Kocam nerede bilmiyorum.
I don’t know where my child is. = Çocuğum nerede bilmiyorum.
He/she was swimming in the sea. = O denizde yüzüyordu.
He/she is on a boat. = O botta.
He/she is drowning. = O boğuluyor.
The boat engine has stopped working. = Botun motoru durdu.
The boat is sinking. = Bot batiyor.