Is it better to call 999 or emergency contact?

[mourndayclub]

If you're walking in an isolated area (I often walk my dog in a large remote field) and someone approaches you or comes to attack you and you're in danger, is it better to call 999 or a contact like your DH or parents? I'm just thinking if you can't outrun them or get away or they grab your phone, surely 999 wouldn't do anything if it got disconnected whereas an emergency contact might realise somethings wrong but then if they don't pick up maybe 999 is better?

If you call 999 and it connects attempts will be made to return the call, this is why if ever you accidentally pocket dial 999 its important to answer if they call back to confirm all is okay. The IT system will triangulate your location if you're on a mobile, it's not pin point accurate but it gives a smallish area; if you call and they hear screaming they would follow it up.

If you have an emergency contact if you think you have more chance of saying where you are or something then perhaps, but it relies on them then relaying it to 999 which takes time. We would sometimes get calls saying my child has called as they've been in an accident for example, they'd used their last bit of battery phoning parents but hadn't given crucial info- this means the search area goes from a triangulated point at least to someone saying I think they were going from x to y so could be anywhere along that route which takes more time.

Personally I'd go for 999 but also if you're out alone especially late at night let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back.

I'd phone 112 - I believe it's better at location tracking if you can't speak.

It isn't, it routes the same way- it's just useful if you're abroad and aren't sure of their emergency number.

@Narwhalll thank you that's very useful!