Emergency Assistance Numbers 911, 112, 999 and 147

Every country has its own preferences in emergency numbers. Even in the Philippines, each city has its own preferred emergency numbers. Take for instance, Davao City's emergency number is 911 while Metro Manila is 117, and in Makati City, its 168. Cebu City, which the Malacañang of the South is located, and is considered more progressive than Davao City, do not have a preferred emergency number. In the Philippines alone, we cannot agree on a common emergency number, how much more all the nations of the world, whose political and economic backgrounds are as diverse as our nation, agree on one common number.

I guess this is an important matter that could save lives. I remember when that number changed, here in Portugal, from 115 to 112, there were people who dialed the old number and got in panic cause there were no answer... Now, everybody knows the new number but... When I travel outside Europe, or to a new country, I always try to find out the emergency number... just because.

We are big on tradition here in the UK. The numbers 999 for emergency calls was picked because it was the personal number of the head of the police at the time. It's not the logical number, because on the old dial phones, it took longest to dial. Still logic usually flies out of the window when tradition is involved.

I think having just one number to call no matter where you are makes a lot of sense. I can imagine a lot of international travelers getting into trouble because they're dialing the wrong emergency number while in a foreign country. Standardization could save lives -- it's hard to argue against it. However, it'll be difficult for the people of the world to make the adjustment to a new, standard international number...I'd bet the old number would have to be retained for a long time along with the new, standardized number.

Practically the 112 number is the worldwide number for emergency. It can be accessed by any mobile unit if I am not mistaken. Assuming that you are in the Philippines and you dial 112 on your cellular phone, it will direct you to the national emergency number for the Philippines which is 117. I am glad that you have the emergency number for Davao. I presumed that you are from the place. It is a great place to be... I am from Cebu. Here we have a rescue unit that started as early as 1986 (ERUF) and there hotline number is 161. As of the moment most of emergency medical services rely on them from rescue to ambulance service. In marikina, it is also 161, other areas have different numbers most likely. I too agree that there are so many numbers in our country, 166 for police, 160 for fire. It is somewhat confusing. But perhaps the national number 117 is okay since we can call them from any point in the Philippines regardless whether its fire, rescue or medical emergency.

Here i Israel we have 101, 102, 103 for police fire or ambulance. It's not hard to remember which to call and if you make a mistake it takes a second for the person on the phone to tell you the right number. Keeping each separate makes dispatch easier. If you need an ambulance, you just call them. Same with fire or police.

Depending where you are in the U.S. the number may be 911. I live in an area that 911 has only been in exsistance for about 10 years. Before 911 each town had its own phone number. I know that some areas still are set up like this. Also only resently a local township joined the county 911. Prior to this the residents called 911, the call went to county emergency and they transfered the call to the township call center. This took a lot of time. Imagine needing a police officer, fire company or an ambulance. Also imagine if there was a power outage, county has a backup generator and these small call centers do not usually. I am glad to have 911. This is coming from a volunteer firefighter.

You forgot 111 and 000