As reported by the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Wrocław:
The changes will initially be introduced in Wrocław and will gradually cover the entire voivodeship. Additional counties will be transferred each day.
What does this mean?
As the officers explain, number 998 will remain active; only the location receiving the call will change. This will make it possible to notify all relevant services about an incident simultaneously. Firefighters:
Emergency number 998 will continue to operate, but after dialling it, callers will be connected not to the State Fire Service duty officer (as before), but to an emergency number operator at the CPR.
Moreover, CPR centres guarantee operational security through implemented mutual backup mechanisms and also handle eCall calls (the pan-European system for rapidly reporting road accidents).
What is the purpose?
Handling calls to emergency number 998 by 112 operators is being introduced throughout the country. An equally important result of transferring emergency number 998 to Emergency Notification Centres will be the standardisation of how calls to emergency numbers are handled, including calls in foreign languages.
Emergency number 998 will be the second emergency number redirected for handling by an Emergency Notification Centre. In 2018, emergency number 997 was redirected, while the redirection of emergency number 999 and the completion of the consolidation of emergency numbers in Poland are planned for 2024.
KW PSP:
112 is the emergency number to use when we are unable to identify the threat in terms of the three current emergency numbers beginning with “9”, or when the intervention of all services is required simultaneously. Calling 112 is free and makes it possible to connect with Emergency Notification Centre dispatchers at any time of day or night, just as with traditional emergency numbers such as 998, 997 and 999. Introducing emergency telephone number 112, through which help can be obtained in various situations (fire, accident, theft, assault, etc.), will not immediately result in the abolition of the existing emergency service numbers.
When will the change take place here?
In Bolesławiec County, from 4 October 2021,dialling emergency number 998 will connect callers to the Emergency Notification Centre in Wrocław (number 112).