Utilization of emergency services during the single European emergency call number pilot

Abstract

Objectives Single European emergency call number project (SECNP) has recently been piloted in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to assess the level of awareness of the emergency call number and utilization of emergency services by the general public during the pilot stage. Methods The study population was selected from the city centers of Izmir and Antalya. A simple random sampling was performed to select 291 respondents from Antalya and 616 from Izmir. The data were collected through face-to-face interview questionnaire in March 2010. Results In the current study, the level of awareness for the ambulance emergency number was 89.4%, whereas for the coast guard it was only 13.5%. As different numbers are used for different types of emergencies, the awareness level about the emergency numbers decreases and the chances of dialing a wrong number during an emergency increase. Males, young and the educated were found to utilize the emergency call number more often than the other parts of the population. Conclusions Public education and awareness campaigns have a positive effect on increasing the level of awareness for emergency numbers. A higher level of public knowledge concerning the 112 emergency number in Turkey is seen as an advantage for the successful execution of the SECNP.