1.800.309.2005
General Traveling Safety Tips and Recommendations
The best way to be safe in any country or island and avoid crime is by implementing the same safety measures you take at home.
1. Never leave valuables in your car (on the seats or in the trunk)
2. When driving, wear your seat belts, and keep your car doors locked. Locked doors make your car less inviting to would-be uninvited guests. Additionally, in an accident, wearing seat belts and keeping doors locked both help you stay behind the wheel, where you can keep control of your car.
3. Never leave valuables unsecured in your hotel room; use the room safe.
4. Avoid flashing wads of cash or lots of expensive jewelry outside, especially at night.
5. Avoid walking on roads/streets that are insufficiently lit. If you must walk on such roads be sure to walk in a group.
6. When parking at any beach, park where there are many other cars. When thieves do not want to be seen, they usually stay away from well-traveled areas.
8. If you are in the mood for a midnight swim, go with other people. It's never wise to swim alone and don't leave valuables in a pile on the beach
Drivers License
Foreign and International Drivers licenses are accepted
Ambulance Services
In case of Emergency dial 912
Fire Department dial 919
The police department dial +599-542-2222
Driving
Traffic Safety and Road Conditions Driving on St. Maarten is on the right hand side.
Right turns on red lights are prohibited and traffic conditions require somewhat defensive driving. Local laws require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and motorcyclists to wear helmets. Children under 4 years of age should be in child safety seats; children under 12 should ride in the back seat.
Roads in St. Maarten are extremely slippery during rainfall. Driving at is reasonably safe in St. Maarten as long as drivers are familiar with the route and road conditions.
Health Care
St. Maarten’s health care delivery services system is structured like the traditional health care system into three areas: primary health care, secondary health care, and tertiary health care.
Primary health care consists of all preventive measures, which collectively serve to stimulate health and healthy lifestyles among the population. Primary health care is provided by private health care professionals, non-governmental and governmental health care organizations such as: general practitioners; district nursing; dental care; paramedical care and other healthcare professionals e.g. psychologists; Turning Point Foundation (Drug Rehab Center); Sector Health Care Affairs; and voluntarily health care delivery services.
The secondary health care or specialized care consists of clinical care and outpatient care, which is provided by nurses and medical specialists within a health care facility. The provided care by medical specialists is mainly accessible through referral by a general practitioner or another medical specialist.
The following health care providers within this area are: Medical Specialists, the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), the St. Martin’s Home (Nursing Home) and the Sister Basilia Center (physically and mentally handicapped).
For more specialized care, St. Maarten refers its patients to health care providers in Curacao and the region. For specialized diagnostic facilities, specific operations and treatments (such as kidney transplants, cancer treatments, burn wound centers) the majority of patients are referred` to Holland, U.S.A., Puerto Rico, Martinique or Guadeloupe. There are special arrangements with these tertiary health care providers.
No vaccination certificates are required for entry into either St Maarten or St Martin, however a yellow fever certificate is required for travelers arriving within six days from infected areas. The Manchionneel tree that grows all over the island, mainly along the beaches, is extremely poisonous: the sap and fruit, which look like small green apples are caustic and burn the skin. Water is safe to drink. Medical care on the island is good, but patients are likely to be transferred to the US for anything serious. Medical insurance is strongly advised.
If visitors need medical attention, we advise them to call their hotels front desk in the first instance. They will hold all details of doctors, hospitals, ambulance and emergency services. In case of serious emergency, dial 912.
Medical Center
St. Maarten Medical Center
Welgelegen Road 30 Unit 1
Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
(599) 543-1111