An emergency is a situation that poses an instant threat to human life or possessions though this description may be different in some areas. Deliberate bogus reports of an emergency are usually prosecuted as an offense. One should call for help any time there is a danger for life or public order. The emergency telephone number is a special case in the country's telephone number sketch.

The emergency telephone number differs from country to country. It is typically a three-digit number (though not always), so that it can be easily remembered and dialed quickly. Some countries have a different emergency number for each of the different emergency services; these often differ only by the last digit. The three main and best known emergency call services are fire brigade, police and ambulance. Other available services include coastguards, mountain rescue and cave rescue (where locally applicable). Some situations such as a major car accident or a terrorist attack will require multiple and/or expert services but the first point of call for coverage such incidents from the general public is still the 9-9-9 system. The number is operated by British Telecom for the Home Office. The operator may also be able to offer help over the phone until the emergency service staff arrive. 9-9-9 is the United Kingdom 's Emergency telephone number along with the EU standard 1-1-2 . Either number can be used but people always refer to 9-9-9. If you are using a mobile phone which is out of range, dial 112. This will connect you directly to emergency services even if you do not have network coverage.

Use of emergency number is always intended to be used only in an emergency. For usual and non-urgent enquiries one should use the normal telephone for the particular emergency service. These are normally listed in the local telephone directory. In the United Kingdom , for example, the number 0845 46 47 can also be dialed for NHS Direct, a non-emergency medical service. Routine and non-urgent calls as well as trick or nonconformist calls to emergency services numbers waste the time of both dispatchers and emergency responders and can cause danger to lives. False reports of emergencies are often put on trial as crimes.

Regional Emergency Numbers

Anywhere in the world one can call an emergency telephone number for emergency help. These numbers include:

"911” in North America
”999" or “112” in the United Kingdom
“112" in Europe
"000” in Australia
"111” in New Zealand
"119" in parts of Asia

One may also dial the operator (often by dialing "0") and state clearly that it is an emergency. Within the European Union and on GSM mobile phone networks 112 can be used in count to any local emergency number.