Utrykning

Utrykning is the Swedish term for the dispatch and deployment of emergency services to an incident. It describes the process by which alarms or reports of danger trigger mobilization of police, fire and rescue services, and medical or ambulance services to a location. An utrykning may be initiated by an alarm center after a 112 call, a sensor alert, or by on-site personnel, with the aim of reaching the scene rapidly to provide aid, secure the area, and begin incident management. Depending on the situation, multiple agencies may be mobilized and operate under a unified command.

In Sweden, the 112 emergency number is answered by SOS Alarm, which coordinates the dispatch of appropriate units in collaboration with regional fire authorities (räddningstjänst), the police, and ambulance services. Units are alerted and dispatched with priority, often using sirens and flashing lights; traffic flow may be adjusted to facilitate a faster response. Utrykning is time-critical and is followed by on-scene coordination, handover to specialist responders, and subsequent reporting and investigation.

The term is used in everyday language as well as official reporting to distinguish urgent mobilizations from routine patrols or non-emergency responses. The specifics of how utrykning is organized depend on regional agreements, national guidelines from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), and the operating procedures of SOS Alarm and the regional emergency services.