| Emergency is a situation that poses an instant | | | | operated by British Telecom for the Home Office. |
| threat to human life or possessions though this | | | | The operator may also be able to offer help over |
| description may be different in some areas. | | | | the phone until the emergency service staff |
| Deliberate bogus reports of an emergency are | | | | arrive. 9-9-9 is the United Kingdom 's Emergency |
| usually prosecuted as an offense. One should call | | | | telephone number along with the EU standard |
| for help any time there is a danger for life or | | | | 1-1-2 . Either number can be used but people |
| public order. The emergency telephone number is | | | | always refer to 9-9-9. If you are using a mobile |
| a special case in the country's telephone number | | | | phone which is out of range, dial 112. This will |
| sketch.The emergency telephone number differs | | | | connect you directly to emergency services even |
| from country to country. It is typically a | | | | if you do not have network coverage.Use of |
| three-digit number (though not always), so that it | | | | emergency number is always intended to be used |
| can be easily remembered and dialed quickly. | | | | only in an emergency. For usual and non-urgent |
| Some countries have a different emergency | | | | enquiries one should use the normal telephone for |
| number for each of the different emergency | | | | the particular emergency service. These are |
| services; these often differ only by the last digit. | | | | normally listed in the local telephone directory. In |
| The three main and best known emergency call | | | | the United Kingdom , for example, the number |
| services are firebrigade, police and ambulance. | | | | 0845 46 47 can also be dialed for NHS Direct, a |
| Other available services include coastguards, | | | | non-emergency medical service. Routine and |
| mountain rescue and cave rescue (where locally | | | | non-urgent calls as well as trick or nonconformist |
| applicable). Some situations such as a major car | | | | calls to emergency services numbers waste the |
| accident or a terrorist attack will require multiple | | | | time of both dispatchers and emergency |
| and/or expert services but the first point of call | | | | responders and can cause danger to lives. False |
| for coverage such incidents from the general | | | | reports of emergencies are often put on trial as |
| public is still the 9-9-9 system. The number is | | | | crimes. |