Why join?
All safety authorities should lead the way for Everyday Heroes. The ‘Everyday Heroes’ theme is shared by everyone contributing to 112 Day, but each safety authority can bring a different and important perspective.
Emergency Response Centres are campaigning for the correct use of the EU Member States' emergency number, 112
Nearly every fourth call made on the emergency number can be classified as a ‘non-ERC call’. More than half of non-ERC calls are made in error or unintentionally. There are also a large number of silent calls, where a mobile phone calls the emergency number by itself. A third large group of non-ERC calls consists of inappropriate or prank calls.
Remember that non-urgent calls cause delay in providing help in a genuine emergency, with potentially fatal consequences. You should also be aware that making misguided or hoax calls to the emergency number is a punishable offence.
Go to the Emergency Response Centre Administration website »
The police provide security and advice
The task of the police includes ensuring legal and social order, maintaining general order and security, preventing and solving crime and considering bringing charges. To prevent accidents and to maintain safety, the police collaborate with other authorities and local organisations and citizens. The police play a key role in the drawing up of local and regional safety plans.
The police consider it important to get citizens interested in maintaining their own safety and the safety of their immediate environment and to understand that their own actions and precautions play a part in this safety effort.
Go to the police website »
Rescue services explain how to prevent a fire from starting
The rescue services are responsible for the prevention of fires and other accidents. Accidents can be prevented by taking safety aspects into account in all activities right from the outset. Safety work is carried out in co-operation with other authorities, organisations and citizens. Improving fire safety in the home is an important part of this work. A fire is always unanticipated and always frightening. It is all too easy to panic in a fire, and therefore it is important to think before hand what to do if you do encounter a fire. It is easier to prevent a fire than to put it out! At 112 Day events, rescue services show you how to prevent fires in the home.
Go to the rescue services website »
Local social welfare and health care authorities prevent falls
Every year, more than 600,000 accidents happen in the home and in leisure time in Finland. Slipping, falling down and falling from heights are particularly prevalent. More than 1,000 people die as a result of such accidents in Finland every year, and tens of thousands of people require hospitalisation. Yet such accidents could be prevented by anticipating risks and by investing in safe conditions and protective equipment. Half of all Finns who have had an accident consider that their accident could easily have been avoided.
Go to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health website »
Voluntary Rescue Services help search for missing persons
The Voluntary Rescue Services (Vapepa) have trained volunteers for instance for organising ground searches for missing persons, giving first aid and providing shelter for those who have lost their home. Some 20,000 volunteers are involved nationwide. The Voluntary Rescue Services have been operating in Finland for 45 years. They are coordinated by the Finnish Red Cross. Local volunteers will be demonstrating their activities at the 112 Day event and also hope to find new recruits.
Go to the Voluntary Rescue Services website »
