The single emergency number 112 SHOULD NOT BE USED for non-emergencies situations when there is no danger to life, health, safety or property.
DO NOT CALL THE EMERGENCY NUMBER 112 for the following reasons:
- just to chat or joke around, for example, after connection to a dispatcher, to end call and do not explain anything or to try to provoke a conflict, especially under the influence of alcohol;
- to request social assistance:
- transporting a person to their home;
- helping lift a fallen person into bed;
- to ask to rescue animals in their natural habitat, (e.g., a cat has climbed on a tree; a beaver swimming in a city canal and other similar situations);
- to solve household issues, such as water supply, sewage, or electricity failures in your home;
- to ask a connection to another institution, (e.g., radio or TV show);
- to find out about the phone numbers of different institutions or people (e.g., animal shelter, departments of hospital, or electricity outage service);
- to listen and stay silent and not answer the questions of the dispatcher;
- to ask about SIM card and its PIN code or why your phone is not working and how to unlock it;
- to check, if the single emergency number 112 works;
- to ask consultation about the installation of smoke detectors;
- to find out about the condition of a relative who is in a healthcare facility;
- to request the extermination of insects, rodents and other pests;
- to ask to remove birds’ nests from trees, buildings and poles;
- to find out about traffic jams, road conditions, driving conditions;
- to ask about public transports time table and schedules;
- to ask assistance to find lost keys;
- to express opinions on politics and other topics;
- to get a weather forecast;
- to ask for news updates;
- to call a taxi, etc.
Important!
Use the single emergency number 112 only for real emergencies!
If you have accidentally called the emergency number 112, for example, if your phone dials it from your pocket, jacket, or bag, please inform the dispatcher that the call was made by mistake and that no assistance is needed.
Similarly, if the eCall system in your vehicle is activated accidentally or unnecessarily, and you hear the dispatcher speaking, you must inform them that no assistance is required.
Remember!
- All conversations are recorded. They may be forwarded to law enforcement authorities based on their legitimate requests.
- Please remember that malicious behaviour when calling 112 is a subject to administrative and criminal liability
Can you call Emergency Response Centre of Latvia, if you are in another country?
If a person is in a country where the single emergency number 112 is used, by calling it you will be connected to that country’s emergency service not the Emergency Response Centre of Latvia.
In situations where someone outside Latvia gets information that a person in Latvia needs emergency assistance, it is recommended to contact someone in Latvia (e.g., relative or friend) who can call the Emergency Response Centre and report the need for urgent assistance.