How to report an emergency in Finland even if you do not know the language
There is only one emergency number in Finland, 112, where you will get help in emergencies. The emergency number can help you no matter which language you speak.
In Finland, the Emergency Response Centre will help you in Finnish, Swedish and English. If you and the Emergency Response Centre do not have a mutual language, an interpreter may be arranged by the Centre.
If an interpreter is needed in an emergency call, the ERC operator will first determine which language you speak and then search for an appropriate interpreter. It may take a few minutes to reach the interpreter, so it is important that you stay on the line throughout this time.
Once the interpreter has been reached, they will be added as a third party to the emergency call. The Emergency Response Centre will then, with the help of the interpreter, determine what has happened and assess what kind of assistance is needed. The interpreter will help transmit the information received from you to the Emergency Response Centre.
You may receive help sooner if you have someone with the ability to speak Finnish, Swedish or English present to help you make the emergency call.
Follow these steps:
- When you call 112, try to tell the operator in Finnish or English which language you speak (e.g. ‘Arabic’, ‘Somali’ or ‘Ukrainian’).
- Wait for the interpreter to be connected to the call – this may take a while.
- Do not hang up until you are given permission.
When should you call the emergency number 112?
Emergency calls are answered by trained Emergency Response Centre operators and calling is free of charge. In an emergency call, it is important to answer any questions by the ERC operator so that any assistance can be sent quickly and to the right place.
Dial 112, when:
- someone's life or health is at risk
- there has been an accident
- you need urgent help from the police, emergency care, rescue or social and crisis emergency services
- property or the environment is at serious risk.
The Emergency Response Centre operator will ask you questions to be able to send the right help to the right location as soon as possible.
Summary
- There is only one emergency number in Finland: 112.
- You will be served in Finnish, Swedish or English.
- If there is no shared language, an interpreter can be connected to the call.
- Do not hang up until the operator gives you permission to do so.
