Living in a New Country · Lesson 7 of 8 · 12 min

Emergency numbers and getting help abroad

In an emergency you will not have time to search online. Knowing the local numbers, and which service to use for what, is one of the first things to learn in any new country.

Know the main numbers

UK: 999 for emergencies. GOV.UK says to call 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger, and 101 for non-emergencies. Calls to 999 and 101 are free.
European Union: 112 works free across the EU from fixed and mobile phones, and reaches ambulance, fire and police. The European Commission says many operators also answer in English or French, and 112 also works in some non-EU countries.
United States: 911. Many areas also accept texts to 911. Maine's official guidance is 'call if you can, text if you can't', and to give your exact location first.
Australia: Triple Zero (000) is the primary number. 112 also works from mobiles but gives no priority over 000, and 911 will not reroute to 000, according to the Australian Government.
UAE (for when you are home): the Personal Safety module lesson on emergency numbers lists the UAE numbers.

Non-emergency help (UK example)

For urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, NHS 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now. Use 111.nhs.uk, the NHS App or call 111.
If you need an interpreter, call 111 and ask for one, according to the NHS.
For police matters that are not emergencies, such as a stolen car or damage to your property, call 101 or report online. West Yorkshire Police lists examples of 101 matters.
The Health Admin module lesson on choosing the right help covers pharmacy, GP, 111 and A&E in more detail.

If you cannot speak

In the UK, if you call 999 and cannot talk, the Independent Office for Police Conduct explains the Silent Solution: listen to the operator, cough or tap the phone if you can, and press 55 when prompted to be put through to the police.
If you stay silent and do not press 55, the call will be ended, so pressing 55 matters.
In the US, text-to-911 works only by SMS, not apps like WhatsApp, and you cannot send photos or videos, according to Maine's guidance.

What to say on an emergency call

Say which service you need: ambulance, fire or police.
Give your location as precisely as you can: address, building, floor, room or a nearby landmark.
Say what has happened and whether anyone is in danger now.
Stay on the line and follow the operator's instructions. Do not hang up until told to.
Never make hoax calls. The European Commission notes hoax calls are a criminal offence in most countries.

Set up your safety net in week one

Save local emergency numbers, your campus security number and your embassy's number in your phone.
Learn your full address and how to describe where your room is.
If you are an Emirati citizen, register your travel through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs service so the embassy can reach you in a crisis (see lesson 1).
Share your address and an emergency contact with a trusted friend nearby and with your family.

Practise in real life

Tick each one off when you have done it.

Make a contacts group called 'Emergency abroad' with the emergency number, non-emergency police, the health line, campus security and your embassy for your target country.
Practise saying your address and a description of your building out loud as if on an emergency call.
Teach a family member the UK Silent Solution (999, then 55).

Remember

UK 999, EU 112, US 911, Australia 000.
Use non-emergency lines such as UK 101 and NHS 111 for less urgent needs.
In the UK, if you cannot speak on 999, press 55 when prompted.
Give service, location and what happened, and stay on the line.

Note: Text-to-911 is not available everywhere in the US; check locally. Canada also uses 911, but we did not fetch an official Canadian source, so check your city's guidance. The UK emergency SMS service for deaf and speech-impaired people requires registration; we could not open its page, so check relayuk.bt.com if you need it.

Check yourself

1. Which number works free across the European Union for emergencies?

2. According to GOV.UK, when should you call 101 rather than 999?

3. In the UK, what should you do on a 999 call if you cannot speak?

4. What is Australia's primary emergency number?

5. What is the first information to give when texting 911 in the US, according to Maine's guidance?