Calling 112
In Russia, 112 can be dialled even without a SIM card if the phone sees any operator's network. 112 is also used across the EU, but numbers and rules differ by country, so check the local emergency number.
Safety
Safety
Where the network is weak and the winter is long, safety comes down to simple things: knowing how to call for help, not killing your battery with the cold and not giving away your passwords on someone else's network when there is no other.
Check how to call the emergency number at home, in a calm setting, rather than looking for it for the first time out in the frost.
How this section works: we describe general principles. Check specific services, rules and how to call for help in official guidance for your country.
Emergency calls
What is important to know before you urgently need to call.
Quick call from the lock screen
Find the emergency call feature and medical information for the lock screen in your settings. Try going through the steps to the button without actually dialling.
What to tell the dispatcher
Where you are, what happened and how many people need help. Think in advance about how to describe the location if there is no address: landmarks, the road, the distance from the last village.
Devices and the cold
Frost does not break a phone straight away, but the problems add up.
Keep it close to your body
In the cold, a lithium-ion battery temporarily loses some capacity. An inside pocket keeps the charge longer than a backpack or a sled.
Do not charge a frozen device
Manufacturers advise against charging lithium-ion batteries below freezing. Warm the device up first, then plug in the cable.
Bring it into the warmth gradually
Condensation forms on a cold device in a warm room, sometimes even inside the case. Leave it in a bag or case until it has warmed up.
Online safety on a poor connection
A weak signal pushes people towards risky choices, such as the first open hotspot they find.
Be careful with public Wi-Fi
In a café, at a station or in a hotel, do not enter your email or banking passwords and do not confirm payments. For such tasks it is better to wait for your own network.
Do not postpone updates forever
On slow internet it is tempting to skip updates, but they fix security vulnerabilities. Postpone them until you have a good network rather than turning them off completely.
Check the website address
When a page takes a long time to load, it is easy to follow the wrong link. Look at the address and the secure connection icon before entering any data.
Read also
- Tools
What is already built into your phone and computer: data saver, offline maps, power saving and checking signal strength.
- Guides
Practical guides: how to work on slow internet, save data and prepare for a trip without coverage. The article catalogue is here too.
- Questions
Answers about this reference, poor signal and slow internet, devices in freezing weather and emergency calls.
- Glossary
Connectivity terms in plain words: signal and cell towers, latency and speed, antennas, repeaters and satellite orbits.
- Comparisons
Mobile, satellite or wired internet, an external antenna or a repeater, a power bank or a spare phone: pros and cons without brands.
Sources
- EMERCOM of Russia — guidance on calling emergency services
- Smartphone and battery manufacturers' instructions
- Reference material from telecom operators
Information about batteries, condensation, communication satellite orbits and calling emergency services has been checked against publicly available material from manufacturers, operators and the relevant authorities as of the date this page was prepared. Menu items on your phone or computer may be named differently, so we describe them in general terms.