Emergency Number 112: Its Nature and the Need to Educate the Public in Poland

BACKGROUND: According to statistical data, since 2014, only about 20% of incoming calls to the emergency call centre have been actual emergency calls, others are classified as non-emergency or false calls. This leads to the question: Why is this situation happening in the Republic of Poland? OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to show the public’s awareness with regard to the purpose of 112 emergency number and to indicate the causes and effects of the discussed phenomenon as well as proposals aimed at changing the existing state of affairs. METHODOLOGY: Theoretical and empirical methods were used. An analysis was made of, inter alia, available literature on security and education for safety, sources of law and reports on the functioning of the emergency communication system. Interviews with experts, who are the 112 emergency number operators, were also conducted. CONCLUSIONS: There are many problems generated by the Polish citizens that prevent the proper functioning of the 112 emergency telephone number. The reasons lie primarily in two areas: the lack of adequate education within the context of all social groups and the lack of strict penalties for deliberate performing non-emergency calls or blocking the emergency line.