Emergency phone number 112

Call the Emergency Response Centre if you need help – if your or someone else’s life, health, property or environment is in danger or there is reason to believe that something dangerous is about to happen.

The emergency phone number 112 is always accessible and free of charge. Be sure to teach children how to call this number as well and encourage them to use it when necessary. It is possible to call 112 even if there is no SIM card in the phone or no network signal.

All calls made to the Emergency Response Centre are recorded.

If you are not sure whether your situation is an emergency or not, do not hesitate to call. A rescue coordinator, who has completed relevant training, will answer your call and determine the severity of the situation. If it is determined that the help of ambulance, police or rescue workers is not necessary, the rescue coordinator will provide you with further instructions or forward your call to the appropriate line.

You should call the Emergency Response Centre if help is needed quickly, there is reason to believe that such a need will occur, or you wish to notify of a danger. Remember that there are other people who might also have an urgent need to call 112.

When calling 112:

• Firstly, explain WHAT HAS HAPPENED, tell the rescue coordinator whether anyone has been injured and needs help.
• Tell them the address (being as specific as you can) or describe your location, surroundings. You can also give the rescue coordinator your exact coordinates. Read about how to determine your coordinates on your phone.
• Follow the instructions given by the rescue coordinator, their task is to help you. Answer the questions you are asked – this is necessary so that the rescue coordinator can assess the severity of the situation and provide as much detailed information to rescue workers, the police and the ambulance as possible.
• Do not discontinue the call before all the necessary information has been given to the rescue coordinator and they confirm that it is okay to end the call.
• If someone’s life or property is in danger, help will be sent out already during the call. Asking and answering additional questions will not cause a delay in sending out help – help will already be on the way.
• If the situation changes, be sure to notify the Emergency Response Centre of this.
• Keep your phone line open, so that the rescue coordinator can call you back should that be necessary.

Emergency calls outside of Estonia

In the European Union, calls to 112 are free from mobiles, landlines and public payphones; there is no need to use a dialling code. The 112 call will be answered by an employee of the 112 centre of the country of your current location, therefore, you should provide information in the local language. In most cases, English will also be a suitable option.

When travelling outside of Europe, find out what are the local emergency phone numbers, as there may be several ones. If you encounter difficulties while abroad, turn to the Estonian consular post or the nearest EU member state representation. In case of emergency, you can also consult with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by calling the number:+372 53 01 9999 (24h)

When abroad, you can contact the Estonian Emergency Response Centre by sending an email to ...; but this option is meant for asking or providing information only. In the case of a event undergoing in Estonian that requires rapid intervention, contact the emergency response centre of the country you are currently in and ask them to connect you to the Estonian Emergency Response Centre.  Most emergency response centres in Europe have the contact information of emergency response centres of other European countries.