Calling an “emergency” via SMS or video call: a barrier-free pilot project is working in Ukraine – News

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In Ukraine, there is a pilot project of a non-voice call to the emergency team – for this you need to send an SMS message or make a video call to the number 112.

As reported by the Ministry of Health, the line is staffed by operators who know sign language – this will make it easier for people with hearing and speech impairments to access the call of an emergency team.

In addition, such a service is useful for those who do not speak or have a poor command of Ukrainian and therefore cannot quickly and clearly explain the reason for the call in a telephone conversation.

“Barrier-free access is often mistakenly associated only with overcoming physical obstacles – the installation of ramps and elevators. In fact, this concept is much broader, it affects each of us and is often hidden in little things.” – the Ministry of Health emphasizes.

The ministry notes that during the six months of operation of the pilot project line in Kyiv alone, 112 received 46 messages, 41 calls involving sign language operators, and 20 SMS messages.

The single emergency number 112 in Ukraine: what is known?

The single emergency number 112 will be introduced on the territory of Ukraine by the end of December 2024.

The introduction of a single emergency help line will unite all services (101, 102, 103, 104) and help provide assistance to people more efficiently.

Creation and implementation of the 112 system is also one of the obligations under the association agreement with the European Union.

Services of Service 112 are currently available to residents of Kyiv, Kyiv, Lviv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions.

Earlier we wrote that in Dnipro, a 10-year-old boy called the police and an ambulance in time when his mother became ill.