Why didn't the Mccann simply phone the European Emergency No 112

[Chinagirl]

This is a pointless discussion.  We are looking at an event with the benefit of 100% hindsight, and none of us were involved in the panic of six years ago.  They were in a foreign country, in a catastrophic situation, yet at the stage we are discussing, they would still have been hoping for a simple and happy resolution - the child found.  They did the best they knew at the time, and who are any of us to criticise them for possibly not knowing the right emergency number, or for knowing whether to call the PJ or the GNR, for goodness sake!

[Carana]

This is a pointless discussion.  We are looking at an event with the benefit of 100% hindsight, and none of us were involved in the panic of six years ago.  They were in a foreign country, in a catastrophic situation, yet at the stage we are discussing, they would still have been hoping for a simple and happy resolution - the child found.  They did the best they knew at the time, and who are any of us to criticise them for possibly not knowing the right emergency number, or for knowing whether to call the PJ or the GNR, for goodness sake!

I agree - for the reasons that you have stated.

[DCI]

In 2007? No, I just asked you, who remembers receiving a message informing you of the emergency number on your mobile back then? I certainly didn't, though I do recall receiving a message on one of our phones 2007, welcoming us to Russia when landing in Stockholm. Mobile phone networks were just great back then....

I don't know about 2007, but last year in Portugal, all I got was the change of supplier. If I was lucky I even got a signal to use the phone, at all.

[Benice]

This is a pointless discussion.  We are looking at an event with the benefit of 100% hindsight, and none of us were involved in the panic of six years ago.  They were in a foreign country, in a catastrophic situation, yet at the stage we are discussing, they would still have been hoping for a simple and happy resolution - the child found.  They did the best they knew at the time, and who are any of us to criticise them for possibly not knowing the right emergency number, or for knowing whether to call the PJ or the GNR, for goodness sake!

I agree Chinagirl.     Hindsight has 20/20 vision - and people do keep forgetting that the emotional state and panic that they were all in at that time, would seriously affect how they thought and what they did.   imo.

[Redblossom]

Must admit I didnt know the emergency number for the VAST majority of countries in europe was 112 including the uk as well

I think the vatican should change their one from 118 in caSe they get those stupid idiots that charge you 1.50 a min  to just look up a number for you in this day and age
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number

[Cudge]

Maybe you are an owner of property in Europe John?

in that case you would know these numbers becos they would be in your phone book.

Every year we went abroad, mainly to Europe on business and holidays.  One year we went 8(ish) times, yet I never knew 112 was the emergency number

I have an owned a property in Italy for 10 years now and until joining this forum did not know 112 was the emergency number. Other than the UK's 999 the only other number I have been aware off was 911 in the US

[AnneGuedes]

At least this forum is somehow useful..

[Redblossom]

At least this forum is somehow useful..

Yes, now all of us here will dial 112 if in dire straits abroad instead of telling someone else to run to a reception lol hundreds of metres away whilst we sit and test shutters trying to figure out HOW the abductor entered, of course LIKE THAT WOULD have helped find her

[AnneGuedes]

On ne peut pas dire qu'en termes galants ces choses-là sont dites.
Mais elles sont dites.

[Redblossom]

On ne peut pas dire qu'en termes galants ces choses-là sont dites.
Mais elles sont dites.

Dont know what that means anne LOL sure its funny or relevant  but see u tomorrow gnight

[AnneGuedes]

Dont know what that means anne LOL sure its funny or relevant  but see u tomorrow gnight

One can't say that these things are said with courteous words, but they're said.

[Mrs. B]

I have an owned a property in Italy for 10 years now and until joining this forum did not know 112 was the emergency number. Other than the UK's 999 the only other number I have been aware off was 911 in the US

IMO, the truth is that even most expats don't particularly care what the national emergency number is. Everybody keeps a list of local emergency numbers next to their phones in their house anyway. It works fine, has worked fine for years & if it ain't broken, why fix it?

[Mo Stache]

This is a pointless discussion.  We are looking at an event with the benefit of 100% hindsight, and none of us were involved in the panic of six years ago.  They were in a foreign country, in a catastrophic situation, yet at the stage we are discussing, they would still have been hoping for a simple and happy resolution - the child found.  They did the best they knew at the time, and who are any of us to criticise them for possibly not knowing the right emergency number, or for knowing whether to call the PJ or the GNR, for goodness sake!

A good post that deserves a bump. 

[Redblossom]

gerry found the time immediately  to fiddle with the shutters  though rather than run to reception or anywhere at  all to call police

[icabodcrane]

IMO, the truth is that even most expats don't particularly care what the national emergency number is. Everybody keeps a list of local emergency numbers next to their phones in their house anyway. It works fine, has worked fine for years & if it ain't broken, why fix it?

Fair to assume,  then,  that Mrs Fenn, the upstairs neighbour who offered Gerry the use of her phone, would have had a list of local emergency numbers next to her phone too ?

It would have taken him 30 seconds to get up there and make the call  himself  ...  he said no to the offer