What is an International Emergency Signal for Distress?  Believe it or not there are several ways to signal distress that are naturally understood by the human mind. In this article we cover what those signals are and how to use them in an emergency situation.

"When out and about, know HOW and WHERE to reach out!"  That’s a little saying I like to use to stay on top of emergency preparedness when traveling.  Just imagine being in a situation and the difference between life and death is whether or not you know how to reach the right people! It is essential to know these things, as well as have the contact information of the authorities in the event something goes wrong (God forbid).  This article answers the question; "What is the international emergency signal for distress", along with some very important emergency contact information.  I have included visual representations and international emergency exchanges from all corners of the world.

Countries that also use 911 as their official emergency number are: Uruguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Anguilla, Bolivia, Canada, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Aruba, Barbados, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Ethiopia, Liberia, Tonga, Ecuador, Jordan, Guam, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Paraguay, Panama, Tonga, Venezuela, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Belize, and Dominican Republic.

Table of Contents 

• Types of distress signals
• International Emergency Phone Numbers
• Conclusion 

Types of Distress Signals

There are many different types of distress signals, some requiring preparation ahead of time (as mentioned in the previous section) while others can be created from one’s surroundings. The key to what some may consider “impromptu” distress signaling is providing visuals or sounds that “don’t belong”. You will notice a pattern in the signals below that include actions in multiples of three. When we observe a happening once it’s just a single occurrence, twice a coincidence, three times on purpose. From there our mind begins to investigate, igniting the “Uncertainty Reduction Principle” discussed in the previous section.   

International Emergency Phone Numbers

• Afghanistan – 119
• Albania – 129
• Algeria – 1548
• Andorra – 110
• Angola – 113
• Australia – 000
• Bangladesh – 999
• Belgium – 101
• Bhutan – 113
• Brazil – 190
• Burundi – 117
• Cambodia – 117
• Cameroon – 117
• Cape Verde – 132
• Central African Republic – 117
• Chile – 133
• China – 110
• Colombia – 123
• Comoros – 17
• Congo Republic – 117
• Cook Islands – 999
• Croatia – 192
• Cuba – 106
• Czech Republic – 158

• Denmark – 112
• Djibouti – 17
• Dominica – 999
• Egypt – 122
• Equatorial Guinea – 114
• Eritrea – 113
• Estonia – 112
• Eswatini – 999
• Faroe Islands – 112
• Finland – 112
• France – 17
• French Guiana – 112
• French Polynesia – 112
• Gabon – 1730
• Gambia – 117
• Georgia – 112
• Germany – 110
• Ghana – 191
• Gibraltar – 199 or 999 or 112
• Greece – 100
• Greenland – 112
• Guadeloupe – 112
• Guatemala – 110
• Guinea – 117
• Guinea Bissau – 117
• Guyana – 999
• Haiti – 114
• Hong Kong – 999
• Hungary – 107
• Iceland – 112
• India – 112
• Indonesia – 112
• Iran – 110
• Iraq – 112
• Ireland – 999 or 112
• Isle of Man – 112 or 999
• Israel – 100
• Italy – 112
• Ivory Coast – 170 or 110 or 111
• Jamaica – 119
• Japan – 110
• Kazakhstan – 112
• Kenya – 112 or 999
• Kiribati – 999
• Kuwait – 112
• Kyrgyzstan – 102
• Laos – 191
• Latvia – 112
• Lebanon – 112 or 999
• Lesotho – 123
• Liechtenstein – 117
• Lithuania – 112
• Luxembourg – 112
• Lybia – 1515
• Macau – 999
• Madagascar – 117
• Malawi – 997
• Malaysia – 999
• Maldives – 119
• Mali – 17
• Malta – 112
• Martinique – 112
• Mauritania – 117
• Mauritius – 112
• Mayotte – 112
• Moldova – 112
• Monaco – 17
• Mongolia – 105
• Montenegro – 122
• Morocco – 19
• Mozambique – 119
• Myanmar – 999
• Namibia – 10 111
• Nauru – 110
• Nepal – 100
• Netherlands – 112
• New Caledonia – 112
• New Zealand – 111
• Nicaragua – 118
• Niger – 17
• Nigeria – 112
• North Korea – 110
• Norway – 112
• Oman – 9999
• Papua New Guinea – 112
• Poland – 997
• Portugal – 112
• Qatar – 999
• Reunion – 112
• Romania – 112
• Russia – 102
• Rwanda – 112

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon – 112
• Samoa – 999
• San Marino – 113
• Sao Tome and Principe – 112
• Senegal – 17
• Serbia – 192 or 112
• Seychelles – 112
• Sierra Leone – 19
• Singapore – 999
• Slovakia – 158
• Slovenia – 112
• Somalia – 888
• South Africa – 10 111
• South Korea – 112
• South Sudan – 999
• Spain - 112
• Sri Lanka – 119
• Sudan – 999
• Suriname – 115
• Sweden – 112
• Switzerland – 117
• Syria – 112
• Taiwan – 110
• Tajikistan – 112
• Tanzania – 112
• Timor Leste – 112
• Togo – 117
• Tunisia – 197
• Turkey – 112
• Turkmenistan – 112
• Uganda – 112
• United Arab Emirates - 999
• United Kingdom – 112 or 999
• Uzbekistan - 102
• Vanuatu - 112
• Vatican City - 112
• Vietnam - 113
• Yemen – 194
• Zambia - 999
• Zimbabwe – 999

Countries that use both 911 and their own unique emergency number as well;

• British Virgin Islands – 911 or 999
• Montserrat – 911 or 999
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines – 911 or 999
• Solomon Islands – 911 or 999

Conclusion

No matter where you are preparing to travel, it's never a bad idea to gather emergency information in the event it is needed.  The old saying of; "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" is especially important once you leave the safety and familiarity of your native land or home in general.  If you think about it, the differences in outcomes more times than not has everything to do with preparedness in situations that could potentially bring you danger.  So next time someone asks what is the international emergency signal for distress, or for international emergency information, you will be ready to act in an instance. Safe travels and thank you for stopping by! 

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