Knowing the number 112 when travelling (1 Viewer)

[jumartoo]

In the early hours of this morning, whilst on a camperstop in Andalusia, we got a knock on our door. Once we'd ascertained that it wasn't scrotes up to no good we opened the door to a British lady asking for help to call for an ambulance for her husband who was suffering convulsions. She didn't know how to call for an ambulance in Spain so this is advice to all travellers WHEREVER you are to remember the number 112. This gets you to an international call centre in your own language who will coordinate in emergencies, fire, police, ambulance.

Martin called this number for them and within 30 minutes her husband was in an ambulance on his way to hospital. We hope all goes well for him. We left our details for them to keep us informed if they wish.

So remember - 112!

 

[movan]

Thank you.

do you know if the man was ok?

 

[jumartoo]

Thank you.

do you know if the man was ok?

He suffered convulsions a second time when the ambulance arrived. In Spain a doctor comes with the ambulance and he said straight to the hospital. We left at 6.30 am, as we were up, to meet our friends in Badajoz at lunchtime so didn't see them again. We left his wife our card with our details so she could keep us informed if she wanted to. If we hear from her I'll post on here.

He was a fit, 55 year old, planning to ride 50km on the cycle way today and not had any problems before, so you never know what's in store for you do you?

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[suavecarve]

Slightly off topic but if youre in the UK and dial 911 or 112 it gets you through to 999.

I havent tried it but am well informed it is true

 

[pappajohn]

Slightly off topic but if youre in the UK and dial 911 or 112 it gets you through to 999.

I havent tried it but am well informed it is true

Not quite.....911 will get you a dead tone if anything.
Too many American movies.

There are just two emergency numbers in the UK.
112 or 999

112 is used in ALL European states.

101 is non emergency police
102 is non emergency NHS

 

[suavecarve]

Not quite.....911 will get you a dead tone if anything.
There are just two emergency numbers in the UK.
112 or 999

112 is used in ALL European states.

101 is non emergency police
102 is non emergency NHS

I will have a pop at our defibrillator trainer !

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[pappajohn]

Everyone must have heard it in films.

What's your number ?
555 xxxx xxxx

There is no 555 area code.

 

[pappajohn]

I will have a pop at our defibrillator trainer !

Not American by any chance ?

 

[Gellyneck]

Worth a read for use in UK.

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[Anthea M]

Thanks Judith ,we learnt this on the recent first aid course instead or aswell as 999

 

[klaatu]

102 is non emergency NHS

111?

And apparently most/all UK mobile networks redirect 911 to 999, but it's not really something you would want to try intentionally in an emergency. - Gellyneck's link confirms this.

 

[suavecarve]

Not American by any chance ?

No he is "Pure" british, and told us it was not known but it would divert, I am beginning to remember something about it coming from mobile phones.
I have regular use of calling 999 (3 or 4 times a shift sometimes) and on the less important ones (completely self inflicted comatose idiots) i ll give it a try. I think i have my 6 month retraining next week (Another 4 hours of my life i wont get back)

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[pappajohn]

111?

And apparently most/all UK mobile networks redirect 911 to 999, but it's not really something you would want to try intentionally in an emergency. - Gellyneck's link confirms this.

I knew it was 111, anyone's guess why I typed 102.

 

[maison]

.... to call for an ambulance for her husband who was suffering convulsions. .... so this is advice to all travellers WHEREVER you are to remember the number 112. This gets you to an international call centre in your own language who will coordinate in emergencies, fire, police, ambulance.

So remember - 112!

Is this true? A call centre in your own language? It would certainly help us travellers.

I am not aware of such a facility in the U.K., unless anyone can tell us different.

 

[MikeD]

Thanks Judith -

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[pappajohn]

111?

And apparently most/all UK mobile networks redirect 911 to 999, but it's not really something you would want to try intentionally in an emergency. - Gellyneck's link confirms this.

For the definitive answer I contacted BT.
This is their response.....

 

[klaatu]

He seems to have found that using Google! The "featured snippet", with that exact wording, for "does 911 work in uk" is from:

https://www.quora.com/Does-the-911-emergency-number-work-in-the-UK

 

[jumartoo]

@movan

Update on the patient. His wife has just called to let us know that her husband was taken by helicopter from the local hospital to another hospital near Córdoba and he has a lesion on his brain and is in intensive care awaiting an operation.

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[jockaneezer]

Bloody hell, you did a good thing getting the ambulance this morning then, hope things work out ok for them.

 

[pappajohn]

He seems to have found that using Google! The "featured snippet", with that exact wording, for "does 911 work in uk" is from:

https://www.quora.com/Does-the-911-emergency-number-work-in-the-UK

Lazy bastard.
You go to the trouble of getting info direct from the horses mouth and get what anyone could get.
Typical BT.

 

[moulin 87]

In France 112 is the number to ring from a mobile...No actual guarantee to connect to an English speaker though most do...

From a landline dial 15 for medical (SAMU), 17 Police, 18 for Fire Brigade...

From a landline they know exactly where you are, you do not need to try and explain in a foreign language...

I think in France if you require an Air Ambulance, it will come with a hefty bill, emergency or not...

On the one occasion we have needed to ring 15 for a medical assistance it was a doctor based in a hospital control room who took the call, he liaised directly with the ambulance crew who came to collect the patient and then with the hospital emergency department where he was taken...

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[JockandRita]

Bloody hell, you did a good thing getting the ambulance this morning then, hope things work out ok for them.

Ditto. The type of emergency where minutes count. I'm just glad that @jumartoo, Judith & Martin were able to help as quickly as they did.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[jumartoo]

All credit must go to Martin, there was nothing I could do so I kept out of the way.

 

[The Nomad]

In the early hours of this morning, whilst on a camperstop in Andalusia, we got a knock on our door. Once we'd ascertained that it wasn't scrotes up to no good we opened the door to a British lady asking for help to call for an ambulance for her husband who was suffering convulsions. She didn't know how to call for an ambulance in Spain so this is advice to all travellers WHEREVER you are to remember the number 112. This gets you to an international call centre in your own language who will coordinate in emergencies, fire, police, ambulance.

Martin called this number for them and within 30 minutes her husband was in an ambulance on his way to hospital. We hope all goes well for him. We left our details for them to keep us informed if they wish.

So remember - 112!

A couple of cautions.....112 is indeed the Emergency Services number in Spain (and all across Europe) but it doesn't connect you to an international call centre in your own language.
The call handlers answering your call will be Spanish.
The national language here in Spain is Spanish. You MAY get a call handler who can also speak some English, or can pass your car to another one on duty who can do so, but there's no guarantee ..so get a Spanish speaker to make the call if possible.
Also, the ambulance service in Spain, like most mainland European countries, is private. There are hundreds of ambulance companies across the country. The call handler will despatch an ambulance from the nearest ambulance company. But it is VITAL if it's a medical emergency to specify that you must have an "Ambulancia EMERGENCIA". That will get you an emergency vehicle with paramedics (not a doctor) on board. If you don't specify the "Ambulance Emergencia" it's quite possible that what may get sent is a normal ambulance....essentially a sort of minibus used for carrying the lame and infirm to/from hospitals and health centres.

So remember: 112, Spanish speaker if possible, and "Ambulancia Emergencia".

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[Dave K]

Not American by any chance ?

No, not a defibrillator trainer either

 

[suavecarve]

No, not a defibrillator trainer either

Well thats blown me out of the water.

I ll have a chat with the boss and tell him i havent been defib trained for the past 9 years and we have an imposter !

 

[suavecarve]

And just to clarify the situation, if you read back through the posts, as i have just done, It would seem the imposter defib trainer was in fact CORRECT.
He didnt say use it, he didnt advise it, he just said it would happen
These and other sorts of off the wall conversations go on when you have numerous first aid training days in a year with the same chap.

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[TheBig1]

its a good reminder that i need to book a first aid refresher course. it was mandatory with work and has helped me many times over the years

 

[jumar]

A couple of cautions.....112 is indeed the Emergency Services number in Spain (and all across Europe) but it doesn't connect you to an international call centre in your own language.
The call handlers answering your call will be Spanish.
The national language here in Spain is Spanish. You MAY get a call handler who can also speak some English, or can pass your car to another one on duty who can do so, but there's no guarantee ..so get a Spanish speaker to make the call if possible.
Also, the ambulance service in Spain, like most mainland European countries, is private. There are hundreds of ambulance companies across the country. The call handler will despatch an ambulance from the nearest ambulance company. But it is VITAL if it's a medical emergency to specify that you must have an "Ambulancia EMERGENCIA". That will get you an emergency vehicle with paramedics (not a doctor) on board. If you don't specify the "Ambulance Emergencia" it's quite possible that what may get sent is a normal ambulance....essentially a sort of minibus used for carrying the lame and infirm to/from hospitals and health centres.

So remember: 112, Spanish speaker if possible, and "Ambulancia Emergencia".

Just as well that I knew what to do then, either in English or Spanish....a guy needed to get to a hospital asap...I didn't care if a Horse and Cart turned up...private or public...in the situation I was dealing with I wanted this guy conveying to the nearest Medical Centre, failing this a poor guy could die in front of me.
As @jumartoo posted and the follow on threads, Call 112....get the system running to assist you and the Emergency you are faced with.