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14 February 2012 11:24
Many Britons do not know that the EU-wide emergency number is 112, a study by the Foreign Office has found
As well as making sure your travel insurance is up to date, it's wise to make sure you know the basics about any possible emergencies which might crop up abroad. With this in mind, it is surprising that not a lot of people know about the EU-wide tourist emergency number, 112.
Some Britons even thought it was a brand of perfume, a study has revealed. The research also found that just 14% of people from the UK thought that by dialling 112 they can reach emergency services.
The Foreign Office study also found that just 3% knew that this was the EU's recognised emergency number. The UK, where the number is of course 999, is one of three countries where awareness was the lowest.
Just over one in ten thought that dialling 112 would put them in contact with directory inquiries, while others believed that 112 was a new scent, the number of a bus, or "a pair of Levi jeans".
Lynda St Cooke, from the FO's Know Before You Go campaign, said: "Knowing that you can phone 112 can save you time in critical situations. It is an essential number which we would encourage everyone to carry with them when on holiday in Europe."
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