Using 112 instead of another emergency number on a GSM phone may be advantageous, since 112 is recognized by all GSM phones as an emergency number. A phone dialing a different emergency service's number may refuse to roam onto another network, leading to trouble if there is no access to the home network. Dialing 112 forces the phone to make the call on any network possible.
All phone companies have signed up and as it is a satellite service it also gives them a trace to you if you don’t know where you are.
When to call 112?
Call Single Emergency Call Number 112 only in case of sudden real threat to life, health, safety, environment or property and when emergency services have instantly arrive to emergency location to provide immediate assistance, for instance when:
- building, car, forest, other objects burn in open fire, the smoke comes out of the building etc.;
- trapped people need to be released from damaged vehicles, building ruins, fallen trees or installations;
- Your wallet, bag or other property have been robbed or stolen in the street or square;
- someone is attempting to steal Your car;
- someone is attempting to damage or destroy Your property;
- You see serious car accident with people killed or injured;
- You notice a man wanted by the police;
- You see a fight;
- You or people nearby you suffer from the violence;
- You find a thing which looks similar to explosives;
- You suspect the person is attempting to commit a suicide;
- You detect lying person on the ground who may be unconscious;
- You are bleeding and cannot stop it Yourself;
- a person is choking, is not able to breath;
- a person suffers from an electric shock (from lightning strike or electricity stream); the equipment in use cut the limb or cause other injury.
ATTENTION!
If you've faced another emergency than listed above
DO NOT HESITATE,
definitely call 112 to report it!
Sources:
http://www.snopes.com/science/mobile.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number
http://www.sos112.lt/index/en/when_to_call_112