911 or 112? Emergency Numbers Around the World

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In an emergency, getting help quickly can be a matter of life or death. But did you know that the phone number you call changes depending on which country you're in?

Many countries use 911 as the emergency number for the police, ambulance, and fire department, including the US, Canada, and Mexico.

But in most of the European Union — including Spain, France, and Italy — you call 112 for emergency services. Russia and India also use 112. You can call 112 in Australia if you're using a cellphone, but 000 works from any phone.

You can call 112 in the UK too, but 999 is better known — and 999 is also used in Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Qatar.

Many countries have different numbers for different services. For example, in Japan, you call 110 for the police, and 119 for an ambulance or the fire department. South Korea also uses 119 for an ambulance or fire, but it's 112 for the police. In Seoul, there's also a different number for foreigners with medical emergencies — 1339.

The emergency phone number in most countries is three digits long, but in South Africa, you have to call 10177 for an ambulance or the fire department. The police number is 10111, but you can also call 112 from a cell phone.

It might be easiest to call for help in Kenya. There you can use any of the most common numbers — 911, 112, or 999 — to get all three emergency services.

Did you know?

• The world's first emergency number was the UK's 999, which was created in 1937.

• The city of Haleyville, Alabama — where the first US 911 call was made in 1968 — holds a 911 festival every year to celebrate the emergency services.