Each year on 11 February, Europe is proud to come together to celebrate European 112 Day. Established in 2009, and dedicated to raising awareness of the European emergency number 112, it is a day to recognise the work of all those who contribute to the European emergency services chain.
Member States all over Europe organise communication activities and other events to promote the European Emergency number 112 to their citizens and help spread the message of 112.
On this day, we celebrate together, and EENA is excited to be sharing the various actions taking place in different countries.
Some actions that we have suggested as proposals for the Member States to celebrate this day include:
– Open doors activities
– Awareness Campaigns
– Announcement of new 112 functionalities
– National 112 Awards Ceremonies
Stay tuned, we will share everything with you very soon!
How are countries celebrating 112 day in 2022?
Andorra
The Department of Fire extinction and Prevention of Andorra
The Department of Fire extinction and Prevention of Andorra
The Department will publish last year’s data on the use of the 112 number in Andorra and they will also be promoting the day via their social media accounts.
Croatia
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Croatia will host its 10th recreational jogging of citizens and emergency services members, a 5 km track along the Sava River in Slavonski Brod. The start is scheduled on February 26, 2022, symbolically at 11 hours and 2 minutes in front of the Vijuš Sports Hall in Slavonski Brod.
Kindergartens and schools will host information sessions in order to educate children in the field of civil protection, with an emphasis on the role of 112 number.
The functionalities and achievements of 112 will be presented in meetings with representatives of local and regional authorities, emergency services and operational forces of the civil protection system.
They will promote the 112 number and the celebration of 112 Day through appearances in radio and TV shows, publishing a web brochure on portals and social networks, distributing leaflets in kindergartens, schools and other institutions, displaying posters on public bulletin boards, advertising on display panels in public transport, shopping malls, squares, etc.
Czech Republic
Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic
Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic
They will use their social media profiles to host 112 day related contests for followers, articles, visits of fire brigades and many more activities.
Estonia
Estonian Emergency Response Centre
Estonian Emergency Response Centre
For the Estonian Emergency Response Centre, 112 Day is one of the most important days of the year. They will host a big media event where they will provide an overview of how the progress they made last year and what the major trends their concerning 112 service were. In addition, they will have a 112 photo and video competition titled “From Snow to Snow” for nurseries and primary schools. Children will talk during their class about emergencies and when to call to 112 and they will make 112 number (usually outside and from slow) and send photo or video of it to us. Call centres throughout Estonia are highly festive on this day and celebrate with cake.
Georgia
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Internal Affairs
This year, 112 Georgia turns 10 years old! Therefore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is holding big informational campaigns, conducting various activities and include outstanding people and the media to promote the event and make as widespread as possible.
EENA’s President Dr. Demetrios Pyrros has congratulated them on this achievement via a heartfelt video message.
Hungary
National Police
National Police
On 11 February 2022, call centres in Hungary are opening their virtual doors to citizens. Call Centre Szombathely will be hosting online calls and webinars to show the work of call-takers and the importance of 112. Call Centre Miskolc will be holding an information session for local school children to teach them about the proper use of the 112 number.
Italy
University of Sassari
University of Sassari
In Italy, the University of Sassari is hosting an online event to promote and discuss the importance of 112. Some EENA staff members will also be attending.
Luxembourg
Direction Générale
Direction Générale
The Direction Générale in Luxembourg will be publishing a video on new CSU-112 facilities and provide an insight on emergency interventions of the day via their social media platforms.
Moldova
112 Moldova
112 Moldova
They will be celebrating by posting on their Facebook page about the importance of the day and they are planning on awarding some diplomas to operators for their unconditional hard work.
The Netherlands
The Landelijke Meldkamer Samenwerking and Dutch National Police
The Landelijke Meldkamer Samenwerking and Dutch National Police
The Landelijke Meldkamer Samenwerking will focus on the release of the 112NL app. Every employee will get a small gift, it’s confetti with seeds because we are still growing as an organization and with new services. Content and information about the 112NL App will be disseminated on their social media.
The Dutch National Police, will highlight the launch of the 112NL-app from this past January.
Poland
Ministry of Interior and Administration, Department of Civil Protection and Crisis Management
Ministry of Interior and Administration, Department of Civil Protection and Crisis Management
There are 17 PSAPs in Poland, managed by approximately 1100 qualified responders of 112 emergency number. During the European 112 day , every PSAP centre will organise local ceremonies, with festive cakes and presence of authorities and emergency services officials. They are also hosting thematic competitions for children, educational lectures at schools and meetings with little heroes, who saved someone’s life by calling 112 emergency number- all related to the matter. Every year the 112 Day is the subject in all kinds of media, so they use this as an opportunity to raise awareness for the significance of the number and see it as a chance to educate the public about its appropriate usage. They also conduct interviews on 112 day with PSAP’s operators to help familiarize the general population with the job characteristics. The Minister of the Interior and Administration also honour the PSAP centre’s most committed and devoted employees with awards and inscribed plaques – this year it will be done remotely. They are also conducting a media campaign which will have an educating impact on the public awareness of safety protocols.
Romania
112 Romania
112 Romania
On the occasion of the European 112 Day anniversary, which marks 18 years since the single European emergency number became operational in Romania, Special Telecomunications Service, as the administrator of the 112 system, will celebrate this event through a series of actions aimed to improve and consolidate the public and internal image of the 112 Emergency Service. Therefore, public and in-house activities will be organized before the anniversary of the European emergency number and on 11th of February, as follows:
On 11th of February 2022, the STS communications tower will be illuminated in red, the central and local public authorities will also light up their headquarters in red. The same day, STS will issue a press release including main statistical data on the use of the 112 number in 2021. STS will post a promotional video on social networks, showcasing STS emergency operators and dispatchers from relevant response agencies while transmitting a message on dialing responsibly to 112. They will produce content that highlights the work of call operators.
The STS spokesperson and several 112 Emergency Services operators will hold a series of interviews in the mainstream media to promote the European 112 Day and the fact that citizens should call 112 responsibly.
On its official social media stream, STS will promote several successful cases managed in 2021 by Romanian emergency operators. The Facebook page of STS will have a new themed cover photo which will be maintained through the entire month of February.
Spain
Generalitat Valenciana
Generalitat Valenciana
From Monday 7th, to Friday 11th, some videos will be published online. They will be related to Ganeralitat Valenciana’s activity: e.g. different control rooms virtual visits, emergency mobile units (SATCOM unit, forward command point unit), and AML deployment in Spain (project managed by Valencia 112).
Belgium
The Brussels Fire Brigade and Ministry of Interior
The Brussels Fire Brigade and Ministry of Interior
This year, the Brussels Fire Brigade is focusing on recognising workers “behind the scenes” of emergency services. They will post a message on the Cinquantenaire, an important Belgian landmark, and draft a press release and hold social media coverage of the day’s actions. They are also gathering witness testimonies to explore the day to day of emergency services workers.
Schools in Belgium are also celebrating the day by hosting information sessions about 112.
The Ministry of Interior will conduct interviews with call operators. They also plan on acknowledging the outstanding work of operators during these difficult pandemic years. They are also collaborating with the TV-series Appel d’Urgence and De Noodcentrale.
Cyprus
Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
This year, the ministry will be conducting a social Media campaign promoting the importance of 112 in Cyprus and in the rest of the EU.
Denmark
Greater Copenhagen Fire Department
Greater Copenhagen Fire Department
They will be undertaking a social media awareness campaign which will touch on the history of the PSAP at Greater Copenhagen Fire Department, what happens when you dial 112? Before 112 day and on the day, they will be conducting a Live session where it is possible for the citizens to ask questions about the everyday life on the PSAP.
Finland
Emergency Response Centre Agency
Emergency Response Centre Agency
In Finland, 112 Day is a nationwide campaign to raise people’s awareness of what everyday safety is and how it can be promoted. They will host a joint event for different safety authorities, organisations and volunteers. This year, the theme for the campaign is “Let’s create the feeling of safety together”. People and organisations can participate in the theme day online or without an audience. The goal of the campaign is to share safety information.
Germany
Cross-border Emergency Care & Civil Protection
Cross-border Emergency Care & Civil Protection
In Germany, local fire and ambulance departments will use their social media accounts to promote the 112 number and give insights in their jobs and tasks.
Iceland
112 Iceland
112 Iceland
The focus of the 112 Day in Iceland is on violence and responses to it, as well as disseminating information about the correct communication with the 112 emergency services. An interactive video will be premiered, where there are three options to get messages forward in the most efficient way to the emergency services, so that appropriate assistance is received as soon as possible. Only one of three options is correct, but by choosing the right one the viewer gets on in the video.The 112 Day program includes an address by the Minister of Justice, an award ceremony in children’s sweepstakes in 4th school class on fire prevention, and the nomination of the first aider of the year, together with a presentation of the interactive video.
Latvia
Emergency Response Centre, Fire and Rescue Service
Emergency Response Centre, Fire and Rescue Service
In Latvia, the united emergency call number 112 has been in operation for 25 years and for several years now. On 112 day, Fire and Rescue service officials educate their students about correct actions in emergency cases and calling the 112 number.
This year, in order for the informative and educational activities to cover a larger audience, lectures in educational institutions will be offered from February 11 to March 31. Lectures on 112 topics will take place in Zoom, Webex, Google team or similar environments.
From February 8 to 11, information about the united emergency number 112 will be shared on the Fire and Rescue service Twitter , Instagram and Facebook pages; Competitions on social networks will be held on February 11.
Malta
Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security and Home Enforcement
Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security and Home Enforcement
Similar to what they carry out each year, all Emergency Management Services provide some form information sessions to the public. The Ministry will be holding a demonstration and awareness session by all the Emergency Management Stakeholders within one of Malta’s Public Schools, this will be covered by the press and a briefing session on statistical information related to 112 will be provided.
Montenegro
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Interior
Montenegro’s Ministry of Interior plans to make a media promotion of 112 number and what they have accomplished so far. They will also organize a visit of children from schools to talk to them about importance of the 112 number and what kind of help they can get by calling 112 number.
Republic of North Macedonia
The Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of Internal Affairs
The official implementation of the number for emergency calls E-112 in the Republic of Macedonia will start this year on 11th of February.
To celebrate on 11th of February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will host a public event, with invited media representatives as well as all stakeholders of the project. At the event, the EU ambassador in the country Mr David Geer will give an address, then they expect Prime Minister Kovacevski to give a speech, as well as the Director of the Crisis Management center, Mr Stojanche Angelov.
Portugal
Police and Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica
Police and Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica
Polícia de Segurança Pública is teaming up with Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica to celebrate the use of the 112 emergency number in Portugal by hosting a webinar which will be live on 112 Day and where they will be discussing the 112 Emergency Line, how it works, what the structure behind it looks like, the people, abuses and examples of how it used to save lives.
Slovenia
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense
On the occasion of this year’s 112 Day, Slovenia’s Ministry of Defense intends to highlight the “Slovenian Mobile Emergency App”, which complies with the PEMEA standard. The application has already been developed, and they will start using it in May, when they join the PEMEA network.
Sweden
SOS Alarm
SOS Alarm
SOS Alarm is hosting their annual dialogue forum/conference which will be held digitally this year. They have a variation of speakers from the 112 and public safety community in Sweden lined up and the event The conference will be held on February 11.
All around Sweden, dispatch-centrals will celebrate this day locally with cake and other activities
They will be talking about the importance of 112 on their social media platforms, including a Q&A on Instagram with a Dispatcher.
They will also be giving out the 112-award on the digital event/conference to a worthy recipient.