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There are so many of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_nu... I

There are so many of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_nu... In Europe many of them are variations of 1XX, but since there are so many and sometimes they change too, it's not trivial to remember which one. The American 911 is more memorable, even in Europe, simply due to it appearing in popular culture so often, I hope that if someone dials that one in Europe it'll also get forwarded to a real emergency line.

endless1234 7y ago
>In Europe many of them are variations of 1XX, but since there are so many and sometimes they change too, it's just ridiculous to remember them. Eh? 112 works in the whole EU. As your link says. Of course old legacy numbers also work in many countries.
TheRealPomax 7y ago
It's almost as if Europe is not a country. Just like the US, every country in has its own emergency numbers that you should probably know if you're in that country, but for Europe as a whole, 112 is the universal emergency number. And while 911 might be known to many outside the US, as a number that requires actually navigating the dialing pad, it's not all that great. The UK's 999 or Europe's 112 are far better at being something you can dial while under duress (with 999, as a repeated number, being by far the superior choice here).
- spookthesunset 7y ago
  It is a trade off though. I’m sure “911” is no accident either. Because it is slightly harder to dial, it probably has far less accidental dialings than some other countries emergency numbers. I bet little kids would constantly pick up a phone and dial “999999999”.... harder to mistakenly / playfully dial “911”
  - grawprog 7y ago
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/here-s-why-911-became-the-number-for-emergencies/ar-AAG1w66 https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/here-s-wh... >Up until 1968, the United States was still using hundreds of seven-digit emergency telephone numbers across the country. In fact, some states, like Nebraska, had more than 180 different ambulance service numbers alone. >The code 911 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved,” according to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). “First, and most important, it met public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered, and can be dialed quickly. Second, because it is a unique number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code or service code, it best met the long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry.”
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- C1sc0cat 7y ago
  911 is faster to dial, but 999 is easier to find in darkness /smoke
  - WorldMaker 7y ago
    Not on a rotary phone: spinning to the first position is easier to find than the 9 (especially if trying to not go too far and hit the 0). On a traditional rotary 9-1-1 was one hard to dial number followed by the two easiest.
icebraining 7y ago
112 is the GSM standard, and works in countries all over the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_(emergency_telephone_number) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_(emergency_telephone_numbe...
- 0_____0 7y ago
  It forwards to 911 in the states? Good to know.

endless1234 7y ago

>In Europe many of them are variations of 1XX, but since there are so many and sometimes they change too, it's just ridiculous to remember them. Eh? 112 works in the whole EU. As your link says. Of course old legacy numbers also work in many countries.

TheRealPomax 7y ago

It's almost as if Europe is not a country. Just like the US, every country in has its own emergency numbers that you should probably know if you're in that country, but for Europe as a whole, 112 is the universal emergency number. And while 911 might be known to many outside the US, as a number that requires actually navigating the dialing pad, it's not all that great. The UK's 999 or Europe's 112 are far better at being something you can dial while under duress (with 999, as a repeated number, being by far the superior choice here).

spookthesunset 7y ago
It is a trade off though. I’m sure “911” is no accident either. Because it is slightly harder to dial, it probably has far less accidental dialings than some other countries emergency numbers. I bet little kids would constantly pick up a phone and dial “999999999”.... harder to mistakenly / playfully dial “911”
- grawprog 7y ago
  https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/here-s-why-911-became-the-number-for-emergencies/ar-AAG1w66 https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/here-s-wh... >Up until 1968, the United States was still using hundreds of seven-digit emergency telephone numbers across the country. In fact, some states, like Nebraska, had more than 180 different ambulance service numbers alone. >The code 911 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved,” according to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). “First, and most important, it met public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered, and can be dialed quickly. Second, because it is a unique number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code or service code, it best met the long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry.”
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
C1sc0cat 7y ago
911 is faster to dial, but 999 is easier to find in darkness /smoke
- WorldMaker 7y ago
  Not on a rotary phone: spinning to the first position is easier to find than the 9 (especially if trying to not go too far and hit the 0). On a traditional rotary 9-1-1 was one hard to dial number followed by the two easiest.

icebraining 7y ago

112 is the GSM standard, and works in countries all over the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_(emergency_telephone_number) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_(emergency_telephone_numbe...

0_____0 7y ago
It forwards to 911 in the states? Good to know.