German children learn the W-Fragen, the W questions, for an emergency call to 112. Teaching material of the German Red Cross youth organization, for children from second grade, lists them.
Wo? — Where is the emergency?
Was? — What happened?
Wie viele? — How many people are injured?
Welche? — Which injuries did you see?
Warten! — Wait for questions.
In October 2017 a joint committee of the fire protection association vfdb and the German Fire Brigade Association reviewed the list for fire safety teaching in kindergartens and primary schools. Phones now transmit the caller’s number, so “who is calling” matters less and less. The number of injured, the committee wrote, has lost all importance for children, who cannot judge it reliably. Its conclusion: Ein Auswendiglernen der W-Fragen ist nicht mehr nötig. Memorizing the W questions is no longer necessary. The committee still wanted the questions taught. It put Wo first and redefined Warten as listening to the dispatcher and answering his questions.