Think you’re travel-ready? According to new research, almost 50 per cent of Australians are unprepared for an emergency while travelling overseas with a surprising knowledge gap about critical local information and this basic safety tip.
While Aussies know to dial 000 in an emergency and probably know to call 911 in the US, thanks to movies and TV shows, many would be hard-pressed to recall emergency numbers in other popular destinations, such as Europe and the UK.
With many Australians becoming ill or injured on overseas travels every year, not knowing this basic safety tip of critical numbers puts a significant number of travellers at risk.
AllClear Travel Insurance found 46 per cent of Aussies don’t know the correct number to call when travelling overseas.
Despite 9.6 million Australians travelling overseas every year, just 16 per cent always check the emergency number for their international destination.
Almost two in five (39%) admit they rarely learn emergency numbers before they travel and one in four (25%) say they never check at all.
Only 22 per cent could identify Europe’s 112, while one in five (19%) mistakenly believe it’s 999 – the UK emergency number.
Smartraveller is the best source of international emergency numbers for Aussies travelling abroad and some of the most popular destinations’ contacts are listed below:
Basic safety tips: Universal Emergency Numbers
| Region/Country | Emergency Number |
| European Union | 112 |
| United Kingdom | 999 or 112 |
| United States | 911 |
| Canada | 911 |
| Australia | 0 |
| New Zealand | 111 |
| India | 112 |
| China | Police – 110, Ambulance – 120, Fire – 119 |
| Japan | Police – 110, Ambulance – 120, Fire – 119 |
| South Africa | 112 (mobile), 10111 (landline) |
| Mexico | 911 |
| Switzerland | 112 or local numbers – 117 (Police), 118 (Fire), 144 (Ambulance) |
| Norway | 112 (Police), 110 (Fire), 113 (Ambulance) |
