We celebrate the European 112 Awareness Raising Day!
10 February 2017
PRESS RELEASE
10 February 2017
We celebrate the European 112 Awareness Raising Day!
The European 112 Day is celebrated tomorrow, as every year on the 11th of February, and “The Smile of the Child”, member of the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) is taking part in a pan-European awareness raising campaign to inform about the existence and services of the 112 number.
The European Emergency Number 112 is interconnected with the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056 and the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000, both operated in Greece by “The Smile of the Child” and recognized as emergency lines.
About the European Emergency Number 112:
● It is available free of charge, 24/7, anywhere in the European Union. Citizens can dial 112 to reach the emergency services, including the police, emergency medical services and the fire brigade;
● Specialized personnel answers the calls in one of the main EU languages;
● The European emergency number can be reached by landline phones as well as mobiles;
● 112 Number operates in Greece and provides services to visitors in the country;
● 112 Number is a part of the GSM standard and all GSM-compatible telephone handsets are able to dial 112 even when locked or, in some countries, with no SIM card present.
According to a recent survey, only 27% of European citizens identify 112 as the number to call in an emergency anywhere in the EU, and 70% did not come across any information about the European emergency number 112 in their country. With the increasing number of Europeans travelling throughout the EU, awareness of the common European emergency number is needed now more than ever.
On the national level, “The Smile of the Child” operates the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056, the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 and the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111, thus contributing to the immediate prevention and intervention for every serious problem related to children such as child abuse or neglect, disappearance, trafficking or bullying.
The Lines address children and adults and operate daily, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are staffed with specialized personnel (social workers and psychologists).
It is worth mentioning that in 2016:
● The National Helpline for Children SOS 1056 received 244.676 calls. 39,5% of these calls were related to children at immediate risk.
● The European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 received 6.149 calls.
● The European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111 received 7.581 calls.
