Today we celebrate the European 112 Day 2019!

PRESS RELEASE

Athens, 11 February 2019

Today we celebrate the European 112 Day 2019!

European 112 Day is celebrated today and “The Smile of the Child”, member of the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) actively participates to the pan-European campaign #HumansOf112.

The idea of the campaign is to highlight the people, both professionals and volunteers, who work every day to save lives. Their work is often kept in the background and the campaign will help people feel closer to those who keep them safe and increase respect for these exceptional professionals, whose roles are often very challenging.

In Greece, the European Emergency Number 112 is interconnected with the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056, the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 and the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111, operated in by “The Smile of the Child” and recognized as emergency lines.

Some interesting facts about the European Emergency Number 112:
● It is available free of charge, 24/7, anywhere in the European Union. Citizens can dial 112 to reach the emergency
services, including the police, emergency medical services and the fire brigade;
● Specialized personnel answer the calls in one of the main EU languages;
● The European emergency number can be reached by landline phones as well as mobiles;
● 112 Number operates in Greece and provides services to visitors in the country;
● 112 Number is a part of the GSM standard and all GSM-compatible telephone handsets can dial 112 even when locked or, in some countries, with no SIM card present.
 

According to the most recent surveys, more than half of Europeans do not know they can dial 112 anywhere in the EU, whereas according to a recent survey, 70% has not come across any information about the European emergency number 112 in their country. With the increasing number of Europeans travelling throughout the EU, awareness of the common European emergency number is needed now more than ever.

On the national level, “The Smile of the Child” operates the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056, the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 and the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111, thus contributing to the immediate prevention and intervention for every serious problem related to children such as child abuse or neglect, disappearance, trafficking or bullying.

The Lines address children and adults and operate daily, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are staffed with specialized personnel (social workers and psychologists).

“The Smile of the Child” is official partner of the Directorate General of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) in order to provide humanitarian assistance in the country. The Organization has all the tools and infrastructure to provide help and support in emergency situations, including the team of Search and Rescue Team "Thanasis Makris".

In 2018:
● The National Helpline for Children SOS 1056 received 271.996 calls. 32,8% of these calls concerned reports for children at risk.
● The European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111 received 7.296 calls.
● The European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 received 12.487 calls.

The nationwide network of the Organisation is comprised among others of the Mobile Medical Units of Intensive Care for Children and Newborns, the Multi-medical Unit Hippocrates and other Mobile Medical Units, a Pediatric Care at Home Unit, the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056, the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 and the European Helpline for Children & Adolescents 116111, all three interconnected with the 112 European Emergency Number, a number of specialized logistical tools (search and rescue vehicles, jeeps, radio networks, repeaters), a Mobile Command Center, the Crisis Management Center “ODYSSEAS”, a Disaster Recovery Area at the Athens International Airport and the Search and Rescue Team “Thanasis Makris” with the participation of internationally certified canine teams.