Baja California Sur’s state emergency medical teams have responded to more than 1,400 calls routed through 911 so far in 2026, Health Secretary Ana Luisa Guluarte Castro announced on Paramedic Day. The calls were handled by the state’s SAMU (Emergency Medical Attention System) and CRUM (Emergency Medical Regulation Center), which together form the backbone of pre-hospital emergency care across the state.
How the 911 System Works in BCS
The process begins when a caller dials 911. Operators route medical reports to CRUM, where specialists evaluate the situation and decide the best response. Depending on the emergency’s location and severity, CRUM dispatchers send one of SAMU’s 18 ambulances, a unit from another institution such as the Red Cross, or the nearest volunteer group.
This triage system is designed to cut response times across the state’s vast geography. The coordinated pipeline currently covers four of the state’s five municipalities: La Paz, Comondú, Loreto, and Mulegé. These areas span hundreds of miles of desert highway and remote coastline, making centralized dispatch critical.
Los Cabos Not Yet Fully Integrated
Los Cabos, the municipality with the highest concentration of foreign residents and tourists, is not yet fully integrated into the SAMU-CRUM system. The state government is working with Los Cabos municipal authorities to expand coverage there. For now, emergencies in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo rely on a mix of municipal fire department paramedics, Red Cross units, and private ambulance companies.
This gap matters for expats and visitors. Calling 911 in Los Cabos will still connect you to emergency services, but the dispatch may route to a private ambulance company rather than a state-run unit. Private ambulance fees can vary widely and are not always transparent at the time of pickup.
Paramedics Also Support Road Safety
Guluarte Castro noted that SAMU-CRUM paramedics also participate in DUI checkpoint operations across BCS, providing on-site medical support during road safety enforcement. The state health secretary made the announcement as part of official Paramedic Day celebrations recognizing the work of pre-hospital emergency crews.
For anyone living in or traveling through BCS, 911 remains the single number to call for medical emergencies. Callers should be prepared to describe their location using cross streets or landmarks, since street numbers are not always posted in rural areas and smaller towns.
The announcement was originally reported by the Baja California Sur state government at bcs.gob.mx.