Fires Department Head Announces Overuse of Emergency Line 112 - Emergency services manager expresses concern over frequent misuse of emergency hotline number 112
Berlin Fire Department Faces Challenges Amid Excessive Use of Emergency Number 112
Berlin Fire Chief Karsten Homrighausen has expressed concerns about the excessive use of the emergency number 112 by city residents, as reported by the Berliner Morgenpost. The number, intended for serious, life-threatening situations, is being used excessively, according to Homrighausen.
In an interview with the Berliner Morgenpost, Homrighausen emphasized the importance of using the 112 only for emergencies. The number of emergency calls decreased by 5.7 percent last year to approximately 1.15 million, but this represents an increase of 3.4 percent compared to the year 2023.
Despite the decrease, the largest rescue service in Germany still receives over 3,000 emergency calls daily. The fire department faces limitations when the emergency number is called for minor incidents, as it could tie up ambulances with trivialities, preventing them from reaching actual emergencies.
The fire department is also facing financial constraints in maintaining and updating its vehicle fleet. More than 25 million euros are needed annually to constantly renew the fleet, which is not expected. The financing of the renewal of the firefighting vehicle fleet in Berlin is carried out by the responsible municipal authorities through leasing and financing solutions.
This means that Berlin’s fire department vehicles are financed via municipal funding in combination with leasing models offered to public firefighting organizations. However, the aging of the current fleet of 1,094 vehicles is a cause for concern for Homrighausen.
Homrighausen suggests that the patient service of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and closed general practitioner practices are alternatives to the emergency number 112 for non-emergency health-related issues. The patient service of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians can be reached for acute complaints, while closed general practitioner practices can be reached via the number 116 117.
The record-breaking number of deployments in the given year further highlights the need for the fire department to prioritize its resources. The fire department responded to 532,157 emergency and illness cases as well as fires, setting a new high.
Homrighausen stresses that the 112 is for serious cases and should not be used for minor incidents. By using the emergency number appropriately, residents can help ensure that the fire department is able to respond effectively to true emergencies.
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