Chapter3
Emergency Call Numbers
In case of medical emergency, we call the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) that should respond to the incident within 15 minutes. The EMS telephone number 155 puts us in contact with a dispatcher in the control centre who asks about details of the incident, gives instructions to perform basic life support and asks the nearest ambulance to respond to the emergency.
Another emergency number used for medical emergencies is 112. However, this number connects you to a dispatcher working for the Integrated Rescue System. Number 112 is the common European emergency number, being in operation in the whole European Union. This number makes it easier for people travelling across Europe to call medical help if necessary. However, in the Czech Republic it is more convenient to use the emergency number 155, as it is a direct access to an EMS dispatcher, which is time saving. The shorter the response to the emergency, the higher the chance of survival of the casualty.
Other emergency call numbers include 150 to call the Fire Rescue Service and 158 to alert the State Police.
Note
The Integrated Rescue System (IRS) was established to coordinate all responders in case of emergencies, such as floods, fires, mass casualty incidents, civil unrests, terrorist acts, etc. The basic IRS bodies include the Fire Rescue Service, the Emergency Medical Service and the State Police. Other bodies that help the IRS in cases of emergencies are the Municipal Police, the Red Cross, the Army, the Salvation Army, etc.
All emergency call numbers are free of charge, cover the whole territory of the Czech Republic and run non-stop.