Health & Safety

Your wellbeing and mental health are incredibly important. Living in an unfamiliar culture can be challenging, so please speak up if you are struggling, or you feel that things are not going well. The program team will help with day-to-day queries and point you in the right direction.

Emergencies

In the event of a medical or security emergency, call 112 immediately. This number is valid in all EU countries. If you are unable to speak on the phone, you can send a text message to 114.

Once you are safe and have received proper care, you should contact Crisis24 at Columbia's dedicated line (+1 208-758-8809) and the Columbia in Paris emergency contact number.

Crisis24

Crisis24 is Columbia's 24/7 emergency assistance provider for medical, security, and travel issues abroad. Students participating in academic programs in Paris have access to this important resource during their time abroad.

What Crisis24 provides:

• 24/7/365 medical, security, and travel assistance.
• Medical & security evacuation and repatriation.
• Health insurance while abroad (via Zurich, at no cost).
• Real-time safety/security alerts via email & app.
• Pre-trip itinerary reviews as required for specific locations.

What to do before you leave for France:

  • Create your Crisis24 profile by following the instructions provided by Columbia Global Risk, Safety, and Operations.
  • Download the Crisis24 Horizon App: search “Crisis24 Horizon” on the App Store or Google Play.
  • Ensure that you login to your profile in the app and turn notifications on.
  • If you have any questions prior to travel, you may contact Crisis24 prior to your departure. This includes questions on prescriptions, dealing with pre-existing conditions, and other concerns you might have while abroad.

SOS Médécins (Preferred option for general medicine)

Create an account at this link

Once you have made an account, you have three options:

  1. Request a home visit
    1. A doctor will be dispatched to your residence.
    2. Visits are prioritized by medical need.
    3. You must wait in your residence for the doctor to arrive
    4. A home visit costs between 36,50€ and 86€ depending on the time of day and day of the week
  2. Make an appointment in an official SOS Médécins medical center (see list of centers below)
    1. A visit costs between 26.50€ and 78€ depending on the time of day and day of the week
  3. Make a virtual appointment
    1. Cost is 26.50€

SOS Médécins cost overview

Doctolib (secondary option for general medicine)

You can make an in-person appointment on Doctolib (you can't make online appointments without a social security number). Here is a video explainer on setting up an account. If you have a U.S. phone number make sure to include +1 (if it doesn't work the first time, please try again).

Be sure to look at the prices on the doctor’s profile page before booking. We recommend searching for doctors in Sector 1 or Sector 2.

Important reminders

  • If you have any specific questions, please contact Crisis24 at Columbia's dedicated line +1 208-758-8809. They can provide medical advice and can potentially help you make an appointment if you are having trouble with the above.

  • General doctor’s appointments are not covered by Columbia’s emergency travel insurance. You will have to pay upfront. It is important to ask the doctor for a feuille de soins to submit to your personal U.S.-based health insurance for reimbursement.
  • Remember to ask for a doctor’s note (justificatif d’absence) to share with the Columbia in Paris team and to submit to your French University (this is especially important for Sciences Po).
  • If a doctor refers you to a specialist, we suggest contacting Crisis24 to organize these appointments and to discuss potential coverage of medical costs.

Should you not feel well, your first point of reference may be a pharmacy. Pharmacists are well-trained professionals with considerable medical knowledge. They can advise you on what sort of medicine could be appropriate for your symptoms, and can also refer you to a doctor if your problem appears to warrant it. Most pharmacies are closed on Sundays, but each neighborhood has a pharmacie de garde which remains open. You can search for this pharmacy here.

Should you need to buy the morning-after emergency pill, you can go to any pharmacy and ask for the "pilule du lendemain." The prices vary between 5-20€.Pharmarcies also carry other contraceptives. For more advice, please do not hesitate to contact our staff.

Pharmacies close to Reid Hall

Pharmacie du Dome: 206 Boulevard Raspail, 75014 (8:30 a.m.–8 p.m.)

Pharmacie des arts: 106 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75014 (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.)

Pharmacie Montparnasse: 3 Rue du Départ, 75014 Paris (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.)

Pharmacie Vavin: 12 rue Vavin, 75006 (9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.).

Students in semester and academic-year programs can make appointments with Reid Hall Psychological Services. Students will receive a detailed introduction to Psychological Services during orientation.

Commuting at Night

Please be aware that the last metro usually runs at 1:15 a.m. on weekdays. We recommend that you take a taxi or an Uber to your destination, especially if you don't know the neighborhood. Alternatively, you can take a night bus, but they are generally not recommended due to safety concerns. 47 bus lines operate from 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Overall, Paris is a safe city and easy to get around but as in every large city, there are neighborhoods that are less safe than others and you must remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

Bicycles and E-Scooters

Following several bicycle and scooter accidents, including former Columbia students, we strongly discourage their use in Paris. If you decide to travel by bicycle or scooter, we highly recommend doing so in less-congested areas such as public parks. Always WEAR A HELMET.

Mental Health

  • SOS Help : 01 46 21 46 46 (Available from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.) 
    • English-speaking helpline and resources
  • Nightline France : 01 88 32 12 33 (Available Thurs.-Mon., 9 pm to 2:30 am)
    • A free and anonymous listening service for students
    • Also has a listening service by chat if you don’t want to call

STI Testing Centers

Getting tested for STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) in France is completely free of charge and not complicated. There are a number of "centre de dépistage" throughout Paris and they are all anonymous. For some, you can even walk in without an appointment. The Red Cross also has some centers in Paris where you can get tested for STD's: see their homepage for more details. At the Red Cross centers, you usually have to make an appointment in advance.