From now on, in case of emergency, Kyiv residents can call the European emergency service at 112. Find out what are the differences from the numbers we are used to and how the single emergency number works

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The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, has announced that the introduction of a single emergency number in Kyiv has been completed, and from now on residents of the capital can call 112 to get help in any emergency. The communication center has already started processing incoming calls.

What preceded the emergence of a single rescue number: Law 7581

In the fall of 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft law "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving the System of Emergency Assistance to the Population by a Single Phone Number 112". Law 7581 provided for the creation of a single center for receiving and processing citizens' appeals, which would ensure a better level of emergency assistance in the event of emergencies or threats to the life and health of citizens.

How does the single emergency number work?

The contact center operators receive calls from citizens and then forward the received requests to the relevant emergency service units that are called upon to help in a particular emergency.

It is also important that citizens with hearing or speech impairments can contact the rescue service, as the center employs operators with knowledge of sign language. To do this, send an SMS to 112 and wait for a response with a link. After clicking on the link, the citizen will be connected to a rescue operator via video.

According to the Interior Minister, the next step in improving the emergency assistance system is to scale up the single number in all cities with a population of over one million people. Later, the system will be launched throughout the country.

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Why is the transition to a single 112 number important?

Based on the European experience, we can confidently say that the system of a single rescue number is an important step to improve the level of emergency assistance to the population. After all, a single dispatch center is designed to coordinate the actions of all emergency services: police, fire, ambulance, emergency gas service, rescuers and other units. Thus, in the event of any emergency, citizens do not need to think and hesitate about where to call and which service to call first, just dial 112 and inform operators of a problem or situation that threatens their health or life. The contact center dispatchers will direct the actions of all the services necessary to help. 

We remind you, we should expect an increase in prices and tariffs in July. Many changes will affect not only finance and business, but also ordinary Ukrainian citizens. Increased pensions, end of the pandemic, and ban on e-cigarettes: we told you what Ukrainians should expect in our previous article.

Photo: Screenshot from a video by Ihor Klymenko/Telegram

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