DECEMBER 4, 2014, SEMBACH, Germany – The U.S. Army in Europe plans to change the on-post emergency dialing number on all USAREUR installations to 112 starting Jan. 1.
“Installations are switching to a single number to better align with standard emergency numbers throughout the European Union and U.S. Air Force installations in Europe,” said Carol Fontanese, Installation Management Command Europe safety officer. “The difference in emergency numbers raises the probability that, in the event of an emergency on a USAREUR installation, individuals may dial the wrong number due to confusion over the correct number resulting in a delay in response by emergency services.”
“Whether you are on post or off post using a commercial telephone, or the Defense Switched Network, dialing 112 will connect you with emergency services personnel,” said Fontanese.
“The bottom line to this change is that we want to ensure all Army in Europe personnel will always reach emergency dispatch services when they need it without having to know the different numbers that have to be dialed when calling from a DSN, mobile, or commercial phone,” said Charles Day, IMCOM Europe assistant chief of staff, G-6. “The old emergency numbers, 114, 116, and 117, only worked from mobile or commercial phones when using the correct German area code and prefix. Now the only number personnel have to remember is 112, regardless of the phone or location within the European Union.”
Dialing 112 from a DSN phone will connect you with on-post emergency services, while dialing 112 from a commercial line will connect you with host nation emergency services.
“In many cases, off-post emergency services personnel will be able to communicate in English,” said Kerstin Kling, IMCOM Europe host nation advisor. “If they are not able to communicate in English, from a commercial telephone line, you can dial the civilian to military dial prefix for your area followed by 112 to connect with U.S. military emergency services.”
Civilian to military dial prefixes can be found at the Defense Information Systems Agency website at http://go.usa.gov/s5m9.
USAREUR installations currently use three separate numbers for police, medical and fire services.
“Garrisons that have split dispatch operations between law enforcement and fire/medical emergencies will use 110 for law enforcement emergencies if procedures cannot be established to fully support the single 112 emergency number,” said Lt. Col. George Brown, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz director of Emergency Services.
“The previous emergency numbers will remain in operation indefinitely to minimize the risk throughout the transition,” said Brown.
For more information contact your garrison Directorate of Emergency Services.