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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to teach dc 112 and not 999?

35 replies

MousyMouse · 17/03/2013 17:55

112 is the emergency no in (most) of europe.
it's the number to call in case of the need of an ambulance/fire services/police when camping in france, sunlounging in barcelona or visiting berlin for a hen night.
so aibu?

OP posts:
myheadwillexplode · 17/03/2013 17:57

Eh? Depends where you live surely. If the UK then yes you should teach them 999.

Jinsei · 17/03/2013 17:57

Depends where you live, surely? Confused

Does 112 work in the UK?

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 17/03/2013 17:58

can you get through to the emergency services in this country on 112?

Jinsei · 17/03/2013 17:58

X post with myhead!

SirChenjin · 17/03/2013 17:59

Does 112 work here in the UK?

Original poster
MousyMouse · 17/03/2013 17:59

but 112 also works in the uk

OP posts:
mrsjay · 17/03/2013 17:59

eh what ? do you normally go to europe a lot do you not stay in the uk I would teach him 999 and when you are going to be in europe then teach him that, you sound a wee bit like a MEP Grin

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 17/03/2013 18:00

oh yes, seems it does

I think it's a good idea to know what the emergency numbers are for any country that you happen to be in, yes.

myheadwillexplode · 17/03/2013 18:01

Depends on their age too though as 999 is much easier to remember and they will be reminded of it more e.g. through school, through adverts etc. They might panic if they can't remember 112.

Original poster
MousyMouse · 17/03/2013 18:01

and btw uk is in europe Wink

OP posts:
myheadwillexplode · 17/03/2013 18:03

Really I never knew the UK was in Europe!

pinkyredrose · 17/03/2013 18:04

myhead Grin

Sirzy · 17/03/2013 18:09

Unless you spend a lot of time travelling I would stick with 999 as that is much easier for a child to remember.

You can still tell them their are other numbers and mention 112 then - that's what I do when teaching young children.

kayty · 17/03/2013 19:19

Everyone should use 112 in the UK now rather than 999

112 calls can be pinpointed on GPS so the emergency services know where you are calling from on a mobile (very useful when on a country lane in the middle of nowhere)

999 is on the old analogue system so they only know where you are if you are calling from a landline

(I learnt this on Thursday at my first aid update training - although I much prefer the catchy 999 this swings it for me)

aldiwhore · 17/03/2013 19:19

Sirzy I read that as "Unless you spend a lot on time travelling..." I was very impressed.

Wewereherefirst · 17/03/2013 19:22

Kayty Err, 999 works with mobile locators too if needed IME.

Teach 112 AND 999. But for the love of all things crunchy please make sure your children know 911 doesn't work in the UK.

Cheers American TV.

BoundandRebound · 17/03/2013 19:26

She'll be very confused at school if you do

Why not teach both

Tanith · 17/03/2013 19:45

We were told on a recent first aid course that we should use 112 in preference to 999 for the reasons that Katy has given.

NannyR · 17/03/2013 19:56

We were told on a recent first aid course that 911 does work in the uk, along with 999 and 112. Due to the popularity of US tv shows 911 is the first number that springs to mind for some people.

kayty · 17/03/2013 20:38

More reasons to use 112 over 999:

It is preprogrammed into your sim card to prioritise your call if the network is busy

If you don't have reception for your provider (e.g. Virgin/ Orange etc) it will automatically search for and use other providers

It bypasses security functions such as pin numbers

It can be dialled from a pay as you go phone that has no credit

Some smart phones will allow you to dial 112 without a sim card

(999 may manage some of these functions but not all)

loubielou31 · 17/03/2013 20:41

Because 112 will work all across Europe and 999 won't I would think 112 much more useful to know.

Wewereherefirst · 17/03/2013 21:08

NannyR It's not recognised in the UK. Whoever is peddling that myth is awful, it really does not connect.

My husband spends his time trying to convince people that 999 (or 112) are the only numbers to dial here. 911 will not connect, it's not a manned number.

Lilka · 17/03/2013 21:27

Also-

As long as your phone is using GSM (not CDMA), 112 will redirect to 911/000 in the US, Canada and Australia (it does in other countries as well). Not that you should neglect to learn 911/000 because you may end up in a situation where you don't have a GSM mobile on you and you need emergency services!

Overall, 80 countries have 112 as a primary or secondary emergency number, even if it only works from mobiles. It's extremely useful to know therefore. It's the standard GSM emergency number.

To be honest, everyone should know it. We need a public 112 drive for the UK

Sommink · 17/03/2013 21:47

I taught my daughter 112 first and then 999, 112 is more accurate at finding location and is apparently answered quicker.

It is also more useful if you are dialing from an internal phone where you have to dial 9 first for an outside line...I have known many receptionists forget to dial the extra 9 then wonder why they can't get through hehe!

NannyR · 17/03/2013 22:15

Someone needs to inform the St Johns Ambulance that they are giving out dud information with regards to using 911 in the UK. We were told that 999, 911 and 112 all connect to exactly the same service, obviously to use 999/112 but if someone called 911 by mistake because it was the first number that came into their head it would connect.
That's quite dangerous mis information to be giving out if it's incorrect.