Important Informations

Emergency Services

• Ambulance: 112

• Police: 110

• Fire: 112

Position Control for Europe:

0671-86-7070
or 00800-444-88444

Vehicle Breakdown Service (ADAC)

01802-22 22 22

Medical/Emergency Services

–Weekend and holidays–

• Out-of-hours medical service:
  Westpfalz-Klinikum Kusel, Im Flur 1
  Phone: 116 117 (please call in advance)
  Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. to Thursday, 7:00 a.m.
  Friday, 4:00 p.m. to Monday, 7:00 a.m.
• Pharmacy / Apotheke
  01805-258825-ZIPCode
  www.lak-rlp.de
• Dentists:
  Phone: 06373-893770

Pharmacy

Pharmacies are not like the drugstores back home

You can also find it in what Germans call a “Drogerie,” a type of health and beauty store that should not be confused with a pharmacy. There isn't really a direct equivalent of a German Drogerie in North America, Britain, or Australia.

Important is:

• As with most shops and banks, pharmacies are usually closed in the evening, on Sundays and on public holidays. Opening hours on Saturdays may vary.
• Outside regular opening hours, you can use an on-duty pharmacy (Notdienstapotheke). Pharmacies usually display information about the nearest on-duty pharmacy at their entrance. You can also find this information online.
• Pharmacies take turns providing this out-of-hours service, so there is always a pharmacy available for urgent medication needs.
• A German drugstore (Drogerie) is a shop that sells personal care products such as shampoo and toothpaste, as well as cosmetics, household cleaning products, baby products and some health or diet products. It should not be confused with a pharmacy.

Electricity

The electrical system in Germany operates at 230 volts and 50 hertz, whereas the United States generally uses 120 volts and 60 hertz. To use American appliances safely in Germany, three types of equipment are commonly used: adapters, converters and transformers.

• Plug Adapters
  Plug adapters allow an American-style plug to fit into a German outlet. They do not change the voltage.
• Step-Down Converters
  Converters reduce the voltage from 230 V to 120 V. Many are intended only for short-term use and should be unplugged when not in use.
• Transformers
  Transformers also reduce the voltage from 230 V to 120 V and are suitable for appliances that need to operate for longer periods. Make sure the transformer is rated for the wattage of the appliance.

Car washing

It is generally not permitted to wash your car at home if soap, oil or other chemicals can enter the ground or drainage system. Use a designated car wash instead.

Quiet Hours (Ruhezeiten)

In Germany, there are certain times when the use of loud machinery is restricted.

For many garden and household machines, quiet hours are from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. On Sundays and public holidays, their use is generally prohibited.

These regulations are intended to protect residents from excessive noise and to ensure periods of rest.

If you have any questions, please contact the local Ordnungsamt.

Examples of restricted equipment include:

• chainsaws
• grass trimmers
• lawn mowers
• leaf blowers
• other noisy garden machinery

Sidewalk and Street

The homeowner or tenant is responsible for keeping the sidewalk and street in front of the house clean. This includes sweeping the area and removing weeds from the sidewalk.

Recycling

Germany has a well-established recycling system. Household waste is separated into several categories:

• White Bag:
  Glass without a deposit (Pfand), such as non-returnable bottles and jars.
• Blue Bag:
  Paper and cardboard, such as newspapers, magazines and packaging.
• Yellow Bag:
  Plastic, metal and composite packaging, such as plastic containers, aluminium cans, spray cans and drink cartons.
• Brown Bin (Organic Waste):
  Kitchen scraps, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags and other biodegradable waste.
• Grey Bin (Residual Waste):
  Waste that does not belong in any of the other categories, such as cigarette ash and other non-recyclable household waste.

For more detailed information, please see the English recycling flyer provided by the Kusel district waste management service.

Waste Collection

• Grey Bin (Residual Waste):
  Wednesday, in weeks with odd numbers
• Yellow Bag and Paper Waste:
  Wednesday, in weeks with even numbers
• Glass:
  Wednesday, once a month

For exact collection dates and further information, please visit the website of the Kusel district waste management service.

And if in doubt, just ask your German neighbours – they usually know when to put the bins out. 🙂