Latest News

Share this article

1 in 2 Aussies abroad at risk because they don’t know this basic safety tip

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.

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.

London telephone box and street scene in winter. emergency numbers – basic safety tip
London calling? Knowing this basic safety tip is critical for travellers.

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.

Female tourist in her 30s looking around and using smartphone, travel, sight seeing, adventure
Do you know Japan’s emergency number? There’s actually three!

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)