About SOS Alarm

SOS Alarm is by appointment of the Swedish Government responsible for handling 112 emergency calls and coordinating rescue work. This however is only one of the company’s many services. Experience of working with relief resources, e.g. rescue services, paramedics, home-help services and the police, has enabled SOS Alarm to offer assistance in many different areas.

SOS Alarm works closely together with the health and hospital sector as well as the regional emergency services. Within the county councils formally in charge of the health and hospital sector in Sweden. SOS Alarm is responsible for setting priorities and alerting the ambulances.

Each county council invites tenders for a binding contract for all missions. As the importance of first aid has increased lately, SOS Alarm has likewise improved its medical competence and participates in research and development programs in many county councils.

As far as rescue services are concerned, SOS Alarm´s mission consists in alerting the adequate forces and directing them to the right location in the event of fires, large scale traffic accidents..etc. SOS Alarm has a contract with practically all municipalities in Sweden, with the exception of a few operating their own call-center. An extensive cooperation in the development field, induced by SOS Alarm´s new technical platform and the introduction of Tetraradio (Rakel), is currently going on together with the emergency services all over Sweden.

By working with alarm installation companies, security companies and on-call companies SOS Alarm can offer a portfolio of products to suit every need. SOS Alarm is a public service enterprise that is owned by the government, and Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions and since 1995 all work is undertaken under contract at an agreed price and in competition with the open market. The company has considerable expertise in many different areas of enterprise and is certified according to ISO 9000.

112 - The Facts

By calling a single telephone number - 112 - it is possible to receive help from all or any one of the available rescue services, e.g. the ambulance service, the police, the fire service, air and sea rescue, mountain patrol, or priest on call.

When should I use 112?

Use only in emergency situations, especially when life or property is in danger.
SOS Alarm in a borderless Europe 112 is today the phone number designed to enable everyone to call emergency services anywhere in the European Union, from a fixed or a mobile phone free of charge.

SOS Alarm’s 18 local alarm call centres are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each centre is lead by a unit manager who is in charge of operations. This person in turn is supported by an advisory Committee. Cooperation with local officials and businesses is important for each individual unit.

SOS Alarm is owned by:

The Swedish Government (50 %)
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (50 %)
Annual turnover: 808 milj SEK (2009)
Staff: 874 employees (2009)