The following addresses and telephone numbers may be useful in an emergency.
Nový Smokovec
Policlinic, on Cesta Slobody highway, opposite Slovakia holiday centre (phone 052 442 2444, open daily 24 hours)
Tatranská Lomnica
Zdravotné Stredisko (Health Centre), opposite TANAP museum (phone 052 446 7349, open Mon–Fri mornings)
Poprad
Poprad's hospital and polyclinic (Nemocnica s Poliklinik) is located at Banicka 28 on the south side of the town, phone 052 712 5111.
Zakopane
Szpital Miejski (Municipal Hospital), Kamieniec 10 (in Stary Kamieniec on the north side of the town centre)
There are thought to be around 80 to 100 European brown bears on either side of the Tatras border. Most are shy and keep well away from human activity, keeping to the remoter parts, but some are losing their fear of humans and have occasionally been seen rummaging in dustbins around the mountain huts and even in the villages in broad daylight. It is as well to be aware that they are around, and what to do if one is encountered.
We quote from the Small Illustrated Guide to the High Tatras by Juraj Ksiažek, in which it is suggested: not to leave the marked hiking paths; to warn of your presence in a normal voice, especially early in the morning or in the evening when the bears are still active; not to approach a bear even if it appears peaceful; if an attack occurs, do not actively defend yourself but stay motionless on the ground until the bear moves away.
Mountain rescue centres can be found in many places throughout the High Tatras, including all the chalets or refuges. If someone in your party is unlucky enough to suffer an accident, or if you are in a position to help someone else, go to the nearest mountain rescue station, or any place from where help may be summoned.
If you can telephone (though you may not get an English speaker) call 18300 if in Slovakia, or 0603 100 100 if in Poland. You could also call the international emergency number 112, but this may be slower than calling mountain rescue direct.
In Slovakia there are mountain rescue posts at all the chalets (chaty), plus:
TANAP offices at Podbanské, Javorina, Lysá Pol'ana;
at or near the chair-lift/cable-car/funicular stations (including Štart middle station);
Dom Horskej Sluzby (Mountain Rescue Office) in Starý Smokovec;
Tichá forest house, near Podbanské;
Pod Muráňom forest house, near Javorina.
On Slovak maps they are indicated by a red cross.
In Poland there are mountain rescue posts at all the refuges (schroniski), at Hotel Kalatówki, plus Wiktorówki monastery and cable-car stations.
On Polish maps they are indicated by a blue cross.
If you need advice in an emergency while in Slovakia or Poland, contact the nearest consulate or embassy for the country.
Poland: British Embassy, Consular Section, Ulica Kawalerii 12, 00468 Warszawa/Warsaw, phone 022 311 0000, fax 022 311 0250, e-mail consular@britishembassy.pl
Slovakia: British Embassy, Consular Section, Panská 16, 81101 Bratislava, phone 02 5998 2000, fax 02 5998 2237, e-mail consular@britishembassy.sk
Poland: Irish Embassy, Ulica Mysia 5, 00496 Warszawa/Warsaw, phone 022 849 6633, fax 022 849 8431, e-mail ambasada@irlandia.pl
Slovakia: Carlton Savot Building, Mostova 2, 81102 Bratislava, phone 02 5930 9611, fax 02 5443 0690, e-mail bratislavaembassy@dfa.ie
Poland: American Consulate General, Ulica Stolarska 9, 31043 Kraków, phone 012 424 5100, fax 012 424 5103, e-mail publicwrw@state.gov
Slovakia: American Embassy, PO Box 309, 81499 Bratislava, phone 02 5443 3338, fax 02 5441 8861, e-mail cons@usembassy.sk
Poland: Canadian Embassy, Ulica Jana Matejki 1, 00481 Warsaw, phone 022 584 3100, fax 022 584 3192, e-mail wsaw@international.gc.ca
Slovakia: No representation in Slovakia at time of writing; contact Canadian Embassy, Muchova 6, 16000 Prague, Czech Republic, phone 020 27210 1800, e-mail canada@canada.cz.
Poland: Australian Embassy, Ulica Nowogrodzka 11, 00513 Warszawa/Warsaw, phone 022 521 3444, e-mail ambasada@australia.pl
Slovakia: no representation in Slovakia at time of writing; contact Australian Embassy, Mattiellistrasse 2, 1040 Wien/Vienna, Austria, phone 01 506 740, fax 01 504 1178, e-mail austemb@aon.at
Poland: New Zealand Embassy, Ulica Ujazdowskie 51, 00536 Warszawa/Warsaw, phone 022 521 0500, fax 022 521 0510, e-mail nzwsw@nzembassy.pl
Slovakia: no diplomatic representation at the time of writing; contact New Zealand Embassy, Atrium, Friedrichstrasse 60, 10117 Berlin, Germany, phone +49 30 206 210, fax +49 30 206 21114, e-mail nzembassy. berlin@t-online.de
Poland: South African Embassy, IPC Business Centre, 6th Floor, Ulica Koszykowa 54, 00675 Warszawa/Warsaw, phone 022 625 6228, fax 022 625 6270, e-mail admin@southafrica.pl
Slovakia: South African Honorary Consulate, Frana Krala 1, 81101 Bratislava, phone 02 2077 1025, e-mail rsa.consulate.sk@mail.t-com.sk