If you found yourself in an unexepected scenario that required you to call the emergency services, what number would you dial? If you are a foreigner in Greece and needed to call the police, fire station or for an ambulance, did you know that you could call 112? The 112 number is the same as any local number that you can call in the case of an emergency, except that you have the choice to speak to someone who speaks fluent English, French and sometimes German, which is why it was put in place for foreign tourists and expats around
Europe. What many people don't know is that the 112 number has been active for nearly 20 years, yet worringly has never gained much popularity, probably as a result of few people understanding it. 112 is not the main number in any country and works along side the national emergency numbers in each country.
How can I use 112?
If you are a tourists in Greece using your mobile phone from home with your home subscription, you can still call 112 in case of an emergency, as the number works under international roaming. You can also call 112 from a pay phone, fixed phone (land line), and a mobile phone using national or international roaming.
How efficient is this number?
On average, when calling this number, the call will be answered within 9 seconds. If you are unable to tell the operator where you are, they will be able to locate you without you having to worry about giving an address. On average, the operator will be able to locate you within 23 minutes.
The disadvantages with 112...
On a recent survey carried out on the use and knowledge of this number, 50% of people in Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Finland knew of the number. But when the same survey was carried out in the UK, Greece and Italy, only 10% of respondants knew of it.
Other problems that people have found when dialling 112, is that after requesting an operator speaking a certain language, they have problems with making themselves understood and communications are quite poor. Everyone working as an operator of 112, is required to speak English, others will also speak French or German as a second language.
112 is free from all phones
