Special Sub-Topic: Emergency Numbers by Country Click Here To Play: Emergency Numbers by Country

Which number should you call if you have a police, medical or fire-related emergency in the USA?

911. The number "911" is known the world over. This is partly thanks to the print media and popular films and TV shows originating in the USA.

What is the number for emergency services in Russia, Germany and Sweden?

112. Several European countries use 112. Some, like Spain and Portugal, use 112 as well as another number. Germany uses 112 for fire and medical emergencies (which also uses another number) and 110 for police. (Thanks to player Chris1013 for this additional info about Germany.)

What is the emergency number in Australia?

000. Some groups called for this number to be changed in the 1970s. The reason for this was that on the old "dial up" telephones, the "0" took the longest to dial. Now with push button telephones it makes no difference.

What are the emergency numbers in the UK?

999 and 112. Many former British colonies also use 999.

There are emergency telephone numbers in Vatican City.

t. Vatican City uses the same numbers as Italy for police and fire emergencies, 112 and 115 respectively. Vatican City has its very own ambulance emergency number though, that being 113.

What is the number for emergency services in New Zealand?

111. The American television program "Rescue 911" had to be renamed "Rescue 111" in New Zealand after it was found that young children were dialling the wrong number.

Japan has different numbers for different emergency services. What are they?

119 for ambulance and fire; 110 for the police. Police stations in Japan also function as community lost and found facilities.

St. Maarten, which is located in the Caribbean, has the world's longest emergency number. How many digits long is it?

7. For a police emergency in St. Maarten, one has to dial 5222222.

Is there a country with a simple one-digit number for emergency services?

y. In Egypt, the emergency number for the police and ambulance services is "0". I wonder how many tourists get a frantic voice on the other end when they are trying to reach the operator! For the fire service, you have to dial 03180. I guess fires aren't as big a priority!

In terms of the number of countries, what is the most widely used number for emergency services worldwide?

112. A total of 48 countries and autonomous territories use 112 for at least one, or all three, of their emergency services.