112 (emergency telephone number)

112 is a common emergency telephone number that can be dialed free of charge from most mobile telephones, and in some countries, fixed telephones in order to reach emergency services (ambulance, fire and rescue, police).

112 (emergency telephone number)
Operator responding to a 112 phone call

112 is a part of the GSM standard and all GSM-compatible telephone handsets are able to dial 112 even when locked or, in some countries, with no SIM card present. It is also the common emergency number in nearly all member states of the European Union as well as several other countries of Europe and the world. 112 is often available alongside other numbers traditionally used in the given country to access emergency services. In some countries, calls to 112 are not connected directly but forwarded by the GSM network to local emergency numbers (e.g. 911 in North America, 999 in Great Britain and Hong Kong, and 000 in Australia).

Origins
A "cocaine alert" sign posted by GGD Amsterdam: the sign reminds people to "Call 112 for an ambulance."

The European Emergency Number Association,[1] an organization of emergency services representatives and others, advocated for its introduction in the then EEC (precursor of the EU) and replace national emergency numbers that existed in member states.

112 was first standardised after a recommendation[2] by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)[3] in 1972 and later by a decision of the EU Council in 1991[4] and subsequently reaffirmed in 2002 by article 26 of the Universal Service Directive[5] and its subsequent amendments.[6]

This choice of number has been cited in logical terms as offering the following advantages:

  • Different digits: with the numeric keypads widely used today, using at least two different digits instead of the same digit repeatedly significantly reduces the risk of accidental calls. Young children, vibrations, defective keys and collisions with other objects are much more likely to press the same key repeatedly than a particular sequence of different keys, particularly with a button-operated keypad. Accidental calls to emergency centres from mobile phones, which can dial emergency numbers even with locked keypad, are a particular problem with same-digit numbers, such as the UK's 999.[7]
  • Low digits: on rotary dial telephones, using only those digits that require the least dial rotation (1 and 2) permits a dial lock[8] in hole 3 to effectively disable unauthorised access to the telephone network without preventing access to the emergency number 112. The same choice also maximises dialling speed. Additionally, with telephone systems using pulse dialling, briefly activating the hook once has the same effect as dialling "1", so repeatedly pushing the hook might result in calling 1-1-1. For this reason, Germany's police emergency number was changed from 111 to 110. With numeric keypads, pressing only the first and second button on the keypad is marginally easier in a difficult situation than other keys.

Implementation
112 on a lifeguard tower in Pájara, Spain
Implementation of the two International Telecommunication Union approved[9] emergency telephone numbers in the world:
  112
  9-1-1
  112 and 9-1-1
  Other number or no redirection

After adoption in continental Western Europe, other countries began to use the 112 number for emergencies. Nations that have adopted it (including as a redirect alongside a pre-existing other emergency number) include:

Africa
  •  Egypt (alongside 122 for Police, 123 for Ambulance and 180 for Fire)
  •  Ghana [10]
  •  Mauritius (Police only; alongside 114 for Ambulance and 115 for Fire)
  •  Nigeria
  •  Rwanda (Police and fire brigade; 912 for Ambulance)
  •  Senegal (alongside 17 for Police, 18 for Fire, and 15 for Ambulance)
  •  South Africa (alongside 10111 for Police)

Asia
  •  Armenia (fire dep. 101, police dep. 102, ambulance 103)
  •  Azerbaijan (alongside 102 for Police, 103 for Ambulance)
  •  China (A recorded guidance about the correct SOS numbers in China: Police 110, Ambulance 120, Fire 119. NO SERVICE will be redirected.)[11]
  •  East Timor
  •  Hong Kong (Redirects to 999 on mobile phones)
  •  India (alongside 100 for Police, 101 for Fire, 108 for Ambulance and 102 for Emergency Disaster Management)
  •  Indonesia (alongside 110 for Police, 118 for Ambulance and 113 for Fire)[12]
  •  Iran (alongside 110 for Police, 115 for Ambulance, 112 for Hilal Ahmar Ambulance and 125 for Fire; 911 is redirected to 112 on mobile phones)
  •  Israel (Redirects to 100 – Police – and will serve the planned unified center. alongside 100 for Police, 101 for Ambulance and 102 for Fire).
  •  Jordan (alongside 911)
  •  Kazakhstan (alongside 101 for Fire, 102 for Police and 103 for Ambulance)
  •  Kuwait (alongside 112)
  •  Kyrgyzstan (alongside 101 for Fire, 102 for Police and 103 for Ambulance)
  •  Lebanon (Police only; alongside 160 for Police, 140 for Ambulance and 125 for Fire)
  •  Macau (alongside 999)
  •  Malaysia (Redirects to 999 on mobile phones)
  •    Nepal (Police only; alongside 100 for Police, 101 for Fire and 102 for Ambulance)
  •  Saudi Arabia (alongside 911)
  •  South Korea (Police only; alongside 119 for Ambulance and Fire)
  •  Sri Lanka (Police only; alongside 119 for Police and 110 for Ambulance and Fire)
  •  Syria (Police only; alongside 110 for Ambulance and 113 for Fire)
  •  Taiwan (Republic of China) (After call is connected, press 0 redirects 110 (police), press 9 redirects 119 (fire/rescue/ambulance) )
  •  United Arab Emirates (alongside 999 for Police, 998 for Ambulance and 997 for Fire)
  •  Uzbekistan
  •  Oman (alongside 9999 for Royal Police (All emergencies))

Europe
  •  Albania (alongside 129 for Police, 127 for Ambulance and 128 for Fire)
  •  Andorra (Ambulance and Fire, alongside 118 for same services and 110 for Police)
  •  Austria (Police only; alongside 122 for Fire, 133 for Police, and 144 for Ambulance; 059 133 is the non-emergency number for any local police department)
  •  Belarus (Fire only; alongside 101 for Fire, 102 for Police, and 103 for Ambulance)
  •  Belgium (only in French, Dutch and English (in some cases in German)[13] ) (Ambulance and Fire; alongside 100 for same services and 101 for Police)
  •  Bosnia and Herzegovina (alongside 122 for Police, 123 for Fire and 124 for Ambulance)
  •  Bulgaria (only in Bulgarian, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Romanian, Turkish, or Russian[14])(alongside 150 for Ambulance, 160 for Fire and 166 for Police automatically redirected to 112)
  •  Croatia (alongside 192 for Police, 193 for Fire, 194 for Ambulance and 195 for Maritime search and rescue)
  •  Cyprus (alongside 199)
  •  Czech Republic (only in Czech, English, German, Polish, Russian and French(not by themselves, but by aid of translation software)[15]) (alongside 155 for Ambulance, 158 for Police and 150 for Fire)
  •  Denmark (in Danish, English, Swedish and Norwegian (in some cases in German)[16]) (including  Greenland in Kalaallisut/Greenlandic, Danish and English,  Faroe Islands in Faroese, Danish and English). Alongside 114 for non-emergency police.
  •  Estonia
  •  Finland (including  Åland)
  •  France (alongside 15 for Ambulance, 17 for Police and 18 for Fire)
  •  Germany (alongside 110 for Police)
  •  Gibraltar (alongside 190 for Fire and Ambulance and 199 for Police)
  •  Georgia Single emergency number in Georgia 112
  •  Greece (alongside 100 for the police, 108 for port police, 166 for Ambulance and 199 for the fire service)
  •  Hungary (alongside 104 for Ambulance, 105 for Fire and 107 for Police; 911 is redirected to 112 on mobile phones)
  •  Iceland
  •  Ireland (alongside 999)
  •  Italy (most of Italy has 112 for Carabinieri, 113 for National Police, 115 for Fire, 118 for Ambulance, 1530 coast guard, 1515 State Forestry Corps, 117 Finance Guard and 1544 penitentiary police; a few provinces use 112 for all emergencies[17])
  •  Kosovo (alongside 192 for Police, 193 for Fire and 194 for Ambulance)
  •  Latvia (alongside 110 or 02 for Police, 113 or 03 for Ambulance and 114 or 04 for Emergency gas service, 01 for fire brigade)
  •  Liechtenstein (Police only; alongside 117 for Police, 144 for Ambulance and 118 for Fire)
  •  Lithuania (alongside 011 for Fire, 022 for Police and 033 for Ambulance)
  •  Luxembourg (alongside 113 for Police)
  •  Malta
  •  Moldova (sole emergency number since 1 July 2018,[18] replacing 901 for Fire, 902 for Police and 903 for Ambulance)
  •  Monaco (alongside 15 for Ambulance, 17 for Police and 18 for Fire)
  •  Montenegro (alongside 122 for Police, 123 for Fire and 124 for Ambulance)
  •  Netherlands (0900-8844 is the non-emergency number for any local police department)(In the Caribbean Netherlands 112 redirects to 911, whereas in the European Netherlands 911 redirects to 112)
  •  North Macedonia (alongside 192 for Police, 193 for Fire, 194 for Ambulance)
  •  Norway (Police only, 110 for Fire and 113 for Ambulance. 02800 is the non-emergency number for any local police department)
  •  Poland (its used alongside 999 for Ambulance, 998 for Fire, and 997 for Police; both options are available; 112 is used for all emergencies)
  •  Romania
  •  Portugal (117 for reporting forest fires)
  •  Russia (alongside 101 for Fire, 102 for Police, 103 for Ambulance and 104 for Emergency gas service)
  •  San Marino
  •  Serbia (alongside 192 for Police, 193 for Fire, and 194 for Ambulance)
  •  Slovakia (alongside 155 for Ambulance, 158 for Police, 150 for Fire and 18300 for Mountain Rescue Service)
  •  Slovenia (alongside 113 for Police)
  •  Spain (alongside 091 for Police, 061 for Ambulance and 080 for Fire)
  •  Sweden (alongside 114 14 for non-emergency Police)
  •   Switzerland (alongside 117 for Police, 144 for Ambulance and 118 for Fire)
  •  Turkey (Applied in 58 provinces,[19] in the remaining 23 provinces 112 used for ambulance only)
  •  Ukraine (alongside 101 for Fire, 102 for Police, 103 for Ambulance and 104 for Emergency gas service; in some cities 112 and 911 are additionally for all emergencies)
  •  United Kingdom (alongside 999)
  •   Vatican City (alongside 113 for National Police, 115 for Fire and 118 for Ambulance)

North America
  •  Canada (redirects to 911 on certain phone operating systems only)
  •  Dominican Republic (alongside 911)
  •  Panama (alongside 911; 104 for Police and 103 for Fire)
  •  United States (alongside 911, 112 forwards to 911 on GSM carriers only, including AT&T and T-Mobile.)

Oceania

South America
  •  Brazil (alongside 911; redirects to 190 – Military Police – alongside 193 for Fire, 190 for Military Police, and 192 for Ambulance)
  •  Chile (alongside 911; redirects to 133 - police)
  •  Colombia (Police only; alongside 123 for all emergencies, 125 for Ambulance and 119 for Fire)
  •  Costa Rica (alongside 911)

In many countries, emergency numbers previously used also continue to be available; e.g. 061 and 112 in Spain, 999 and 112 both function in Ireland and the UK. In the United States, only some carriers, including AT&T will map the number 112 to its emergency number 9-1-1.

Adoption

112 is managed and financed in the European Union by each member state (country), who also decide on the organization of the emergency call centres. The number is also adopted by candidates for EU accession and members of the EEA agreement.

The International Telecommunications Union recommends that member states selecting a primary or secondary emergency number choose either 911, 112 or both.[21] 112 is one of two numbers (the other being the region's own emergency number) that can be dialed on most GSM phones even if the phone is locked.[22]

E112
"E112" redirects here. For the chemical element, see Copernicium § Naming.

E112 is a location-enhanced version of 112. The telecom operator transmits the location information to the emergency centre. The EU Directive E112 (2003) requires mobile phone networks to provide emergency services with whatever information they have about the location a mobile call was made. This directive is based on the FCC's Enhanced 911 ruling in 2001.

The eCall feature for automated emergency calls on crash, mandatory on European cars since April 2018, is based on E112.[23]

European 112 Day
Main article: European 112 Day

The European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission signed a tripartite convention in 2009 in order to introduce an annual European 112 Day. It is supposed to raise awareness for the Europe-wide availability and the advantages of the European emergency call 112. They chose 11 February since the date includes the telephone number (11/2).[24] A whole variety of events are taking place around Europe every year to celebrate European 112 Day.[25]

Expert Group on Emergency Access (EGEA)

Getting 112 to work across the EU is a complex task. It requires in particular coordination between civil protection administrations (the emergency authorities who handle the call) and electronic communications administrations (who have to make sure that a 112 call reaches the emergency operator). That is why the Commission decided to act at European level and set up the Expert Group on Emergency Access (EGEA) at the end of 2005.

The objective of the group is to deal with practical issues Member States are facing to provide an efficient and effective 112 service to citizens. This group seeks practical solutions to problems experienced by the emergency services at local, regional or national levels and deals with issues related to the application of new technologies for communication with emergency services.

The European Commission decided that EGEA would not be renewed for the year 2014. The European Commission noted that in case the work by the working group would appear necessary during the course of this period, this work would be fully covered and dealt with during regular Communication Committee (COCOM) meetings, or if needed, the composition of any of these groups could be called for a dedicated meeting back to back with a regular COCOM meeting.

See also

References
  1. "EENA | The European Emergency Number Association". EENA.
  2. http://www.cept.org/files/1051/Topics/Numbering/Recommendation%20T-SF%201%20-%20Long%20Term%20Standardisation%20of%20National%20Numbering%20Plans.pdf
  3. "CEPT.ORG". www.cept.org.p
  4. "91/396/EEC: Council Decision of 29 July 1991 on the introduction of a single European emergency call number". eur-lex.europa.edu. 29 July 1991. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  5. "Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (Universal Service Directive)". eur-lex.europa.edu. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  6. "Directive 2009/136/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009". eur-lex.europa.edu. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  7. Mobiles blamed for emergency calls, BBC News, 2000-03-21.
  8. Such locks were commonly used, e.g. "ABUS Telefonschloß T70 für Wählscheiben" in Germany.
  9. "911 and 112 are the world's standard emergency numbers, ITU decides". The Verge. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  10. "Ghana announces 112 as new general emergency number". 3news.com. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  11. "Emergency Telephone Numbers Around the World". ChartsBin.
  12. "Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kemenkominfo) made a call center for emergency responses at 112". indonesia.go.id. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  13. sanduir (8 May 2013). "112 in Belgium". Digital Single Market - European Commission. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  14. sanduir (11 February 2013). "112 in Bulgaria". Digital Single Market - European Commission. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  15. sanduir (11 February 2013). "112 in the Czech Republic". Digital Single Market - European Commission. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  16. sanduir (11 February 2013). "112 in Denmark". Digital Single Market - European Commission. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  17. For more information, see list of provinces
  18. ȘTIRILE, PUBLIKA.MD - AICI SUNT (29 June 2018). "112 service will be more efficient on emergency calls".
  19. "Çağrı Merkezleri". Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  20. "Dialling 911 instead of 111 still does the trick". Stuff. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  21. "Guidelines to select Emergency Number for public telecommunications networks" (PDF). International Telecommunications Union. 15 May 2008. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  22. 3rd Generation Partnership Project (June 2002), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Man-Machine Interface (MMI) of the Mobile Station (MS);Service description, Stage 1 (Release 1998) (PDF), 3GPP TS 02.30 V7.1.1, archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2013, retrieved 1 December 2018
  23. "ECall - Mobility and transport - European Commission". Mobility and transport. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  24. Joint Tripartite Declaration Establishing A "European 112 Day", Press release by the Council of Europe, 10 February 2009
  25. Actions around Europe - 2018 Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine, released by the European Emergency Number Association (EENA), 12 February 2018
  26. "National Emergency Number Association". www.nena.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2019.

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