Line 112 will work in Kyiv and the region next year, — Igor Bondarenko
The single emergency telephone line 112 provides two-way communication with the applicant and coordination of emergency services to the scene. In addition, the operators of the 112 line will be fluent in foreign languages, and there will also be an opportunity to submit appeals for people with hearing impairments. This was stated during the live broadcast by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Bondarenko.
Analysis of the work of emergency services and security services in the de-occupied territory showed the need for rapid implementation of a single emergency telephone line 112 on the territory of Ukraine. In a situation where the ground communications on which lines 101, 102, 103 were damaged and the population that did not leave the cities lost the ability to communicate.
“At that time, mobile phones were distributed to police officers and the State Emergency Service to maintain communication with the population. In turn, the 112 line is not only a unification of the telephone number, it is a change in the methodology of responding and communicating with a person seeking help. People get the opportunity not only to unilaterally report the incident, with them the operator 112 will maintain two-way communication. Update information, coordinate services whose presence is required at the scene. It is a new level, a new quality, greater efficiency. This fits into the concept of the European 112 line, where the protocols of the response methodology and operators' work are now also updated,” said Igor Bondarenko.
According to him, 112 dispatchers will necessarily speak two or three of the most common foreign languages, if possible, operators who speak less common languages will be involved.
“What is important in the operation of the 112 line: when a person calls the line and the connection is interrupted, they call back and get to the same operator. If several people call from one location, these calls are processed and attached to the card of one event, the information is not duplicated, it is updated,” said Igor Bondarenko.
The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also noted that the movement towards the creation of the 112 system began in 2012, the corresponding law was adopted, but practical steps were not reached:
“We are making the first necessary changes in the legislation, last year a draft law was adopted, where the Ministry of Internal Affairs is designated as the body responsible for line 112. Now the draft law on additional amendments in order to implement the technology itself and legislative support has been adopted in the first reading. Communication was also carried out with the European Investment Bank, since the implementation of the line requires a significant resource,” the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs noted.
Also, Igor Bondarenko noted that on line 112 there will be a service for people with hearing impairments, there will be the possibility of contacting in text form and several more options so that all categories of people can seek help on line 112. In addition, the 112 line will be toll-free.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
Photo by Andriy Novitsky
