112: the European emergency number

112 is the phone number to call emergency services throughout the EU, from fixed or mobile phones, free of charge.
A single emergency number 112 that is accessible for all emergencies and to all people living and travelling in the EU is easy to remember. As such, promoting the use of 112 helps to save lives. As European citizens are increasingly travelling to other countries, for business or pleasure, there is a need for a single number, identical across the EU, to call in an emergency. Especially for travelers, safety in emergencies is the other side of the coin of the single market and the freedoms it offers.
The Directive further detailed requirements concerning 112:
- Free of charge: Member States must ensure that users of fixed and mobile telephones, including payphones, are able to call 112 free of charge.
- No discrimination: 112 calls must be appropriately answered and handled, irrespective of whether 112 or other national emergency numbers are dialed.
- Caller location: Member States must also ensure that emergency services are able to establish the location of the person calling 112. The ability to locate the caller in case of an emergency may be of great significance in a situation where the person is unable to state his or her location, which can happen particularly when calling from mobile phones or while travelling abroad.
This telephone number is also accessible for travelers that are in Santorini – Greece and are in a kind of emergency.
Source: europa.eu






