112 BE - Emergency contact alert

The app "112 Belgium" is the official app for the Belgian emergency services. Once registered in the app, users can request ambulance, fire department, or police assistance through an emergency call. The app automatically provides emergency centers with the user's location and identity. This information is typically transmitted via the internet, but in cases where there is no internet connection available, SMS is used to relay this data to the emergency services (the SMS destination used for this purpose is free of charge). In situations where verbal communication is not possible, operators can activate a chat function as an alternative.

112 BE FAQ

1.Can you call a foreign 112 exchange from Belgium; and from abroad an emergency center in Belgium?

It is currently not possible to contact foreign emergency centers directly from Belgium. It is also not possible to call the control rooms of the Belgian emergency centers from abroad.

2.Can you call 112 if your car breaks down?

The emergency number 112 is only for emergencies. You are not allowed to call 112 to request assistance in the event of a car breakdown or to contact your insurance company.

In the event of a serious car accident, you may call 112 (ambulance/fire brigade) if there are any injuries or if there is a vehicle fire. You may call 101 (police) if the vehicle poses a danger or disrupts public order.

In the event of a non-dangerous car breakdown, you must contact your breakdown assistance provider or insurance company yourself. This type of call will not be handled by the emergency centers and can significantly delaying answering calls from people in need of urgent assistance.

3.Why was the emergency number 112 introduced in the European Union?

The Council of the European Union has taken the decision to introduce the emergency number 112 so that people traveling in Europe do not have to know all the local emergency numbers. The emergency number 112 is easy to remember and is also the only emergency number you need to remember in Europe. This is important because people experiencing an emergency may be stressed or even panicked.

4.How can you ensure that the emergency services can easily find your address?

To ensure that the emergency services can easily find your address, it is important that your house number is large enough, easy to read and clearly visible from the street.

When you call 112 you must always confirm the address of the incident. Make sure that you can state or describe the address of the incident as completely and clearly as possible by answering the operator's questions. Please clearly inform the operator if you know that the address is not easy to find with a GPS system.

To save time, if possible, someone can wait for the emergency services at the front door and show them remotely where they need to be, or, if that is not possible, open the door at the request of the emergency center 112 while waiting for the arrival of the ambulance or the fire brigade. If possible, turn on the outdoor lighting in the evening and at night and do not forget to put any pets in a safe (enclosed) area.

5.How do you best ask for help during stormy weather?

If the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI) announces a code orange or red in the event of a storm or flooding, use the e-desk www.1722.be or call 1722 if you need the fire brigade, but no one (potentially) is there. is in mortal danger. Only call 112 if there is a need for rescue or a life-threatening situation. If you call 112, wait patiently for an answer. Do not register, as this will put you at the beginning of the waiting list again.