Useful numbers to have on your mobile phone?

Jivesinger

Neil_Jones wrote: »

It is my understanding that 911 can be used in place of 999 or 112 on a mobile (same way as dialling 112 reroutes you to the local Emergency services, in the UK 999) but may not work on a landline.

This five year article from the Daily Mail backs this up:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387623/American-biologist-Liz-Francis-trapped-UK-beach-dials-911-rescued.html

According to that article, 911 doesn't work in the UK the same was as 999 or 112.

But it let the person dial some Americans who put her through to the UK emergency services

If you dialled 999 or 112 I imagine you'd get through directly to UK emergency services who may, for instance, stand more chance of locating you if you didn't know where you were.

Neil_Jones

First of all the Daily Mail isn't the most reliable source but it was the first I had to hand. Sorry.

Secondly that article seems to suggest the phone was capable of logging onto a US mobile network outside of the US but I would have been inclined to argue it's going to be almost granted to be roaming on some network here and as a result the 911 call she made has probably been intercepted by the network.

I doubt her call didn't even leave the UK, but that being said it's perfectly possible under the right atmospheric conditions to hear foreign radio stations after dark and a mobile phone in a nutshell is a two way radio device with bells and whistles on so I suppose the Daily Mail story is probably remotely plausible under the right circumstances. If it was as far west as say Lands End it may be more credible but Brean Down is further east by Western-Super-Mare.

As to locating you on a 999 call, the authorities can triangulate the source of the call based on which mast(s) your phone hops between and narrow the search area down by communicating with the network.

esuhl

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Secondly that article seems to suggest the phone was capable of logging onto a US mobile network outside of the US but I would have been inclined to argue it's going to be almost granted to be roaming on some network here and as a result the 911 call she made has probably been intercepted by the network.

As mobile phones could be used anywhere in the world, in order to ensure that emergency calls are recognised as such, mobile phones don't actually dial any emergency number on the network. The phone and SIM are pre-programmed with emergency numbers, and the network can also update the phone's list.

When you try to enter one of these numbers, instead of being dialled in the usual way, the phone sends a special emergency signal so that any network will take the call and connect you to the local emergency control room.

Most phones have 112, 911 and 999 pre-programmed.

barmonkey

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Well I would have thought everybody knew 999/112 (I dare say 911 works as well) and the 101 and 111 numbers off the top of their heads.
IMO.

Just had to look up 112, 101 and 111 as I did not know what they were.

coffeehound

Thanks all for the useful infoz; I too was unaware of the local emergency / non-emergency numbers.

Another thing I thought of adding is a couple of local taxi firms in case one finds oneself stranded after public transport has gone home.

.

Lorian

Spank wrote: »

An contact called ice (incase of emergency) which should be somebody you'd want contacted if something happened to you

OK if your phone is not locked. newer (7.0 an later) of android has an emergency contact information screen you can access without unlocking the phone. Think IOS has this too. you can put emergency contact details, blood type, know allergies, donor status etc.

Ian011

As well as 101, 111, 112/999, etc, you may also want to add 105.

Be aware that 111 does not work in Northern Ireland or Wales and that 105 does not work in Northern Ireland. 101 and 112/999 work in all four nations. All, except 101, are free-to-caller.

As 101 costs 15p per call, not everyone can call it. You may wish to look up the local 01, 02 or 03 number that the Home Office requires each police force to advertise alongside 101. A full list can be found on the main police.uk website.

You may also want to add local hospital, doctor, dentist, water board, council, gas emergency number, floodline, bank, insurer, card company, breakdown company and others.

NONE of these numbers will be 084, 087 or 09 numbers.