Good morning, I wonder if all members are aware of the 112 emergency number in addition to the 999 and 911 numbers. All 3 numbers are pre-set on all mobile phones but the 112 has particular advantages for lone workers or travelers. The Emergency Number European wide for **Mobile** is 112.* If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialled even if the keypad is locked. The 112 Emergency Number is location specific it links to all available networks and can be cross referenced to give your location to within 5m meters of your location (999 can only give a point within 500m) this makes it easy for emergency services to get to you quickly. The 999 Number is network specific and it taken up on mobile calls at the main call centres, e.g. you could be connected to Inverness or Stoke on Trent and have to be redirected to the nearest emergency call centre before your call can be dealt with. With the 112 you are immediately connected to the nearest control centre to your location. 112 calls can be made even if you have no credit of sim card in place. Another advantage is that the emergency services can send a code to turn back on your mobile phone if it goes off accidentally. All in all, for mobile phone users, 112 is the emergency number to use; it gives your location, it is not network specific and your phone can be remotely operated by the emergency services. The following extract is from a report on an incident in Dorset, the outcome could not have been achieved using 999. "Something worth bearing in mind, particularly by Lady Drivers. A bit of useful advice - it is true, someone has asked the Dorset Police. It's been said that this number works in the UK Thought you should know this....The number does work from a mobile This actually happened to someone's daughter. Lauren was 19 yrs old and in college. This story takes place over the Christmas/New Year's holiday break. It was the Saturday before New Year and it was about 1.00pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend , when an UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on. Lauren'sparents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked caron the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc. So Lauren remembered her parents' advice, and telephoned 112 from her mobile phone . This connected her to the police dispatcher. She told the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her and that she would not pull over right away but wait until she was in a service station or busy area . The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn't and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 police cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes. I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you do not have to pull over for an UNMARKED car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e.,put on your hazard lights) or call 112 like Lauren did. Too bad the cell phone companies don't give you this little bit of wonderful information. So now it's your turn to let your friends know about 112. This is good information that I did not know!!!!! Please pass on to all your friends, especially any females." kind regards John

But you can prove anything with evidence.... Actually, the bit about the number working on any network is true but the story is just a re-hash of an american myth.

Good advice generally John, but you do have to stop for an unmarked vehicle if the person stopping you i.e. driving is a police officer(constable) in uniform. It is the person who is doing the stopping, not the car. But even on the Police sites they advise that if you do stop, as you should, do not get out unless you are happy that the person is indeed a plod. Warrant card, etc for ID and if not happy you could ask for their control room number to confirm. Martin

I was introduced to the 112 number when attending an HSE First Aid at Work course. It was explained that as 112 is not provider specific, the agreement is that as providers co-operate with the system. Therefore the signal is picked up by all available networks, the operator can then triangulate the position and I was told by the Course trainer that the St. Johns Ambulance service and the NHS are able to receive casualty locations to within 5 metres

The link to the official FAQ for the 112 service is below. 112 has been around since the early nineties in Europe. Using 112 should force a mobile to search for any available signal irrespective of which provider the phone is registered with. This should happen anywhere within the EU. However, if you are in a not-spot then you are out of range, end of story. I recall a recent story about an MP who raised the lack of an emergency signal every where in the UK. She witnessed a bad accident in the recent bad weather and none of the people at the scene could get 112 to work due to the total lack of any mobile signal from any provider. It is nonetheless a very useful service for peripatetic workers to know about. We use it as our first call rather than 999. As a matter of interest, the latest EU stats suggest that only 6-8% of people in the UK are aware of this service which probably explains why this particular version of the viral e-mail keeps resurfacing? http://ec.europa.eu/info...s/112/ms/gb/index_en.htm

Kate closed this with her ideal answer :) I have had this debate with County Emergency Planning when working on a Top Tier COMAH emergency response plan and with St John Ambulance people. As far as I have ever known no one has ever backed up the myths with any facts and actually in reality both numbers divert to the same call centre. Unless you are using an imported phone 999 will default unlock keys and route via any network to control (as will 112). Also control can track your call (or not!) as well from any number you have dialled. 112 is an international number and despite rumours that it will replace 999 I doubt this will ever happen – maybe it will take the lead as the primary number though. best idea is to be prepared - know your location and provide as much info as possible which ever number you use - '24' is not real life and you will be amazed at how long it takes them to trace and triangulate your call! I have real life experience of this conversation went something like - Control “can you state you location” Me “no – can you trace my call” Control “No – where are you near” Me “nothing I’m in a field in the middle of nowhere” Great!