What are key medical phrases for non-German speakers in emergencies

Key medical phrases for non-German speakers in emergencies focus on enabling clear communication about symptoms, pain, allergies, medication, and basic medical history. Important phrases include: asking about pain (“Where do you feel pain?”), describing symptoms (“I have a fever,” “I am short of breath”), asking about allergies (“Are you allergic to any medications?”), requesting medical help (“Call an ambulance”), and explaining procedures (“I need to take your blood pressure”). Devices such as fixed-phrase translation apps with pre-set medical questions and answers in multiple languages are increasingly used by paramedics to overcome language barriers in emergency medical services. These apps cover hundreds of phrases and improve patient-caregiver communication on-site when interpreters are unavailable.

Some essential emergency phrases likely to be included are:

• “Do you have allergies?” — Sind Sie allergisch gegen etwas?
• “Where does it hurt?” — Wo tut es weh?
• “Are you taking any medicine?” — Nehmen Sie Medikamente?
• “Can you breathe?” — Können Sie atmen?
• “Call the ambulance!” — Rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen!
• “I am a doctor/nurse.” — Ich bin Arzt/Schwester.

These phrases are designed to quickly obtain crucial medical information in emergencies. The use of such fixed phrases or translation tools can significantly enhance communication quality and patient safety in acute settings when language barriers exist. ^{2, 7, 13}

Thus, for a non-German speaker facing a medical emergency, learning key phrases such as pain location, symptom description, and emergency instructions—potentially supported by apps offering multiple languages—can be life-saving and improve care outcomes in Germany.

References

• A Speech-Enabled Fixed-Phrase Translator for Emergency Settings: Crossover Study

• Overcoming Language Barriers in Paramedic Care With an App Designed to Improve Communication With Foreign-Language Patients: Nonrandomized Controlled Pilot Study

• Overcoming Language Barriers in Paramedic Care With an App Designed to Improve Communication With Foreign-Language Patients: Nonrandomized Controlled Pilot Study

• From Witch’s Shot to Music Making Bones — Resources for Medical Laymen to Technical Language and Vice Versa

• Overcoming language barriers in paramedic care: a study protocol of the interventional trial ‘DICTUM rescue’ evaluating an app designed to improve communication between paramedics and foreign-language patients

• A Clinical Phrase Book &c.

• Designing an App to Overcome Language Barriers in the Delivery of Emergency Medical Services: Participatory Development Process

• Präklinische Ersteinschätzung am Einsatzort

• Communication in the ICU: An Unintended Nocebo Effect?

• A Clinical Phrase Book; in English and German, Containing the Usual Questions and Answers Employed in Examining and Prescribing for Patients; Questions in Asking for and Buying Medicines, Etc.

• Rettungsdienst, kassenärztlicher Notdienst oder Notaufnahme

• Code Switching im fachsprachlichen Unterricht der notfallmedizinischen Kommunikation

• Overcoming language barriers in paramedic care: a study protocol of the interventional trial ‘DICTUM rescue’ evaluating an app designed to improve communication between paramedics and foreign-language patients

• Lost in translation? Information quality in pediatric pre-hospital medical emergencies with a language barrier in Germany

• Gamified E-learning in medical terminology: the TERMInator tool

• Medical Characteristics of Foreign Language Patients in Paramedic Care