Absences due to illness decreased and job satisfaction rose in 2023
The Emergency Response Centre Agency’s financial statements for 2023 are complete. Last year, the number of employee absences due to illness fell, new ERC operators were recruited, and employee satisfaction increased.
eCall offers safety in situations where the driver cannot call for help
There has recently been discussion in the news about automatic emergency call systems in vehicles. The Europe-wide eCall connects directly to the nearest emergency response centre and sends information directly to the centre's information system.
The missing children hotline improves safety across the EU
In the event that an underage child becomes missing, it is important to inform the responsible authorities quickly. For this purpose, assistance is available from a common European hotline. In Finland, the hotline can be used for sharing tips about missing children. In emergencies, the number to call is 112.
Real-time text for emergency services will be introduced in 2025
Emergency calls using real-time text (RTT) will be made available by the end of 2025. The new option for emergency calls will especially help people with hearing or speech impairments. The Emergency Response Centre Administration has already taken the first steps in the development of RTT.
Emergency response centre operator awarded for outstanding performance
The European Emergency Number Association EENA awarded a Finnish emergency response centre operator for outstanding work in assisting a person that had fallen through the ice in the wilderness. Finland’s emergency response centres are built around the professionalism of ERC operators and cooperation between authorities, and the case demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.
Victim Support Finland now available in the 112 Suomi app services
The range of services offered by the 112 Suomi mobile app increased on 23 February – conveniently during the International Crime Victims’ Week. The number 116006 of Victim Support Finland was added to the app’s emergency numbers.
According to Arttu Perttula, Director of the Development Department of the Emergency Response Centre Agency, nearly 3 million emergency calls are made to the emergency number every year, about a quarter of which are not meant to be handled by the ERC. Erroneous calls are primarily calls in which the caller was not aware of other help channels or instructions. In an emergency or problem situation, it is important that the person does not feel that they are left without help. However, the best help is often something other than the emergency number 112.
– It’s great that there are different emergency numbers for non-urgent service, such as providing conversational help and support. They save the resources of the public safety authorities for urgent emergencies, which means that help is needed from the authorities. The number of the national Victim Support Finland is a significant addition to the app. With the help of 112 Suomi, we offer a variety of public safety services through a single platform, and thus aim to reduce the number of erroneous calls to the emergency number, says Perttula.
Victim Support Finland (RIKU) offers victims of crime the opportunity to talk to a person who understands what it can mean to be a crime victim.
– Victims of crime, their loved ones and witnesses in criminal cases receive information and advice on criminal proceedings from RIKU, as well as the opportunity to discuss the incident. To us, it is very important that RIKU is now also visible in the 112 Suomi app, as it provides more and more victims with information about our service. The app is also part of preparing for more extensive criminal events, in which case it is important to reach people who have been victims of these crimes, says Leena-Kaisa Åberg, Executive Director of Victim Support Finland.
112 Suomi is a mobile app produced by the Emergency Response Centre Agency and developed in cooperation with various safety actors. Thanks to the large number of users, the app has developed into an comprehensive service package for citizens’ security services.