5. Risk communication and preventative information – 87 Member states to ensure that the 112 number is well known by their citi- zens, which is difficult when many different emergency call numbers are maintained, and leads to immediate action by the competent authority for providing the necessary help. The common European Union 112 emergency call number serves the purpose of facilitating urgent help for an individual in an emergency situation or disaster anywhere in the European Union through one single call. This is of particular importance in a country such as Italy where the important tourist industry draws so many foreigners, most of whom would not know of any other number to call than 112 should they find themselves in urgent need to obtain help. In 1968, Italy had already initiated a process to simplify and standardize the operational liaison between emergency services that resulted in the adop- tion in
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