Emergency Services Phone Numbers?

[Pilatus]

Is there any difference in emergency response time between Emergency Number 999 and Emergency Number 112?

 

[Netherfield]

Supposedly exactly the same thing, 112 used extensively abroad, introduced here so foreign visitors know an emergency number.

 

[Chae1]

Is there any difference in emergency response time between Emergency Number 999 and Emergency Number 112?

Ring them both and find out.

 

[Fruitbat]

999/112 Emergencies Only
999 was the world’s first single digit emergency services number and has long been used in the UK for over 80 years. 999 was chosen for technical reasons (including less chances of being dialled mistakenly), but had another benefit. When dialling, the number 9 could easily be found on a old style rotary phone, as it was next to the dial stop.

112 was introduced to the UK in April 1995. It was standard across Europe in order to give a consistent number for travelers to call wherever they were within the EU.

999 is used in numerous other countries around the world including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, Ghana, Hong Kong, Kenya, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Qatar, Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Eswatini, Trinidad, Tobago, UAE, Zimbabwe.

Using this one number in an emergency, you can call for the:-

• Fire Service
• Ambulance
• Police
• Coastguard
• Mountain Rescue
• Cave rescue
• Quicksand search and rescue service in Morecambe Bay
• Mine rescue
• Bomb disposal

Both 999 and 112 connects to the same services, the emergency operator. Neither number has priority over the other. Once in contact with the emergency operator you will be asked “which service you require”, the operator can give assistance on this if unsure. If you require more than one service then request your primary service e.g Ambulance. You will then be connected to that operator and you can ask them to request and liaise with any other services or providers.

You can even ask for things such as presence of a national grid representative (such as incidents near high voltage systems). In the UK you can call FREE from any landline (if your work phone needs you to press a number for an outside line you may need to take this into account), payphone or mobile. Mobile phone networks have a feature called “emergency call roaming”. Should you lose your signal, your phone (that can see all networks signals) will attempt to utilise another network to get your emergency call through.

It may surprise you but you can also send a text message to 999 (however you must have pre-registered for this service). To pre-register, text the word ‘register’ to 999. The final surprise for most is that even in the UK you can use the American emergency services number – 911. Lots of people are now considering this as the primary emergency services number due to American television shows being so prominent in society.

111 Non-emergency number, NHS Direct
111. Let’s say you need advice on what to do with a non-urgent medical problem, they can help. If you require assistance with out of hours GP, Walk in centres, Dentists etc… they can help.

A trained advisor will ask you some questions about your condition, or the condition of the casualty and guide you from there.

101 Non-emergency number for the Police ONLY
101 is the only number that’s not free and has a charge. The charge is small, 15p per CALL.

Using this number you can report crime that is not an emergency e.g

• Your property has been stolen or damaged
• Your car has been stolen
• You suspect drug related crimes in your street
• Share information about crime in your area
• Report Cars that have been “dumped”
• Speak to the police

If you ever have any doubt as to the seriousness of a crime or injury, you should always ring 999. Don’t forget to teach your children about the emergency services number, what your address and post code is and what each service is for.

 

[Jetemp]

i believe if you ring 112 they can pick up a gps signal to direct to you but they cant do this on 999 how true this is i dont know

 

[Pistonbroke]

i believe if you ring 112 they can pick up a gps signal to direct to you but they cant do this on 999 how true this is i dont know

HSE went to great lengths to tell people that at one of their events so must be some truth

 

[TheTallGuy]

i believe if you ring 112 they can pick up a gps signal to direct to you but they cant do this on 999 how true this is i dont know

Android phones automatically send GPS location on both 999 and 112 calls

 

[Al R]

What happens if you call 911 in this country?
The way the youngsters are today with the amount of television/films watched I bet most youngsters would dial 911 before 999 in an emergency?

 

[acorn]

Also remember that you only have to dial 99....and it will connect..

 

[TheTallGuy]

What happens if you call 911 in this country?
The way the youngsters are today with the amount of television/films watched I bet most youngsters would dial 911 before 999 in an emergency?

Some mobile operators transfer 911 calls to 999.

Also remember that you only have to dial 99....and it will connect..

I'm not sure that's true and certainly not something that I would rely on

 

[Breakthru]

112 puts you through as normal but automatically triangulates your position from the phone masts. Very useful when like most of us you are in the country and come across an incident on a small country road that is a C something.
Try describing where you are to a townie on a telephone 50 miles away.
Didn't know as above that Android automatically does that.
It is especially useful for lone workers where you only know you are in the Mill field at a particular farm and don't know the postcode.

 

[Al R]

112 puts you through as normal but automatically triangulates your position from the phone masts. Very useful when like most of us you are in the country and come across an incident on a small country road that is a C something.
Try describing where you are to a townie on a telephone 50 miles away.
Didn't know as above that Android automatically does that.
It is especially useful for lone workers where you only know you are in the Mill field at a particular farm and don't know the postcode.

What3words should be used by all plus have your spouse on “findmyphone” a few times I havnt answered multiple calls due to putting phone down and taking watch off while lambing and my wife has tracked where I am and then come to look for me instantly
you can set smart watches to detect a fall and if you don’t respond it calls an ambulance with your location, I’ve had to turn mine off as even releasing the handbrake on the manitou was setting it off

 

[Breakthru]

What3words should be used by all plus have your spouse on “findmyphone” a few times I havnt answered multiple calls due to putting phone down and taking watch off while lambing and my wife has tracked where I am and then come to look for me instantly
you can set smart watches to detect a fall and if you don’t respond it calls an ambulance with your location, I’ve had to turn mine off as even releasing the handbrake on the manitou was setting it off

I object to anything that tracks or uses my data vehemently. If you don't know where you are for instance trapped under a quad or whatever but can reach the phone and dial 112 you are in with a shout.

 

[TheTallGuy]

I object to anything that tracks or uses my data vehemently. If you don't know where you are for instance trapped under a quad or whatever but can reach the phone and dial 112 you are in with a shout.

999 works too...

 

[Pilatus]

Off topic. Re “What3words.
I think “What3words” is very useful, BUT in my opinion putting up your, What3words address sign at the entrance to your premises needs to have the pros and cons considered.
I know if one tells delivery guys etc ones premises,What3words address,it will
gradually get known, but not as quickly as putting up What3words sign.
Why,because unlike a farm sign and postcode, a What3words sign will direct THIEVES , and all scum of the earth DIRECTLY to where there mates etc have been told where there, is X,Y,Z etc stuff worth stealing. @JP1 may wish to comment.
A very sad state of affairs but sadly the reality of 21st century technology and scumbags .

 

[TheTallGuy]

Off topic. Re “What3words.
I think “What3words” is very useful, BUT in my opinion putting up your, What3words address sign at the entrance to your premises needs to have the pros and cons considered.
Why,because unlike a farm sign and postcode, a What3words sign will direct THIEVES , and all scum of the earth DIRECTLY to where there mates etc have told where there, is X,Y,Z etc stuff worth stealing.
A very sad state of affairs but sadly the reality of 21st century technology and scumbags .

The scum have smart phones these days & can use w3w themselves.

 

[Breakthru]

999 works too...

Try describing where you are to someone not local even if you understand each others accents. That is not racist by the way as the true Borderers and Dorics are virtually unintelligible to outsiders.

 

[Pilatus]

The scum have smart phones these days & can use w3w themselves.

How right you are, but I don’t want to make it any easier for the scum.

 

[Highland Mule]

Try describing where you are to someone not local even if you understand each others accents. That is not racist by the way as the true Borderers and Dorics are virtually unintelligible to outsiders.

This is why I don't like W3W and prefer grid coordinates. That and my only experience with trying to use it was met with confusion from a Police Scotland handler. And I have very little accent, compared to Doric or Borderers.

 

[Princess Pooper]

What happens if you call 911 in this country?
The way the youngsters are today with the amount of television/films watched I bet most youngsters would dial 911 before 999 in an emergency?

Every parent should be teaching their child how to dial 999 even before they are at school. Many very young children have done EXACTLY the right thing because they were taught how to do this - often when a parent ha epilepsy or some other life threatening condition. Plus a reminder every now and again as they get older.