It will mean Charing Cross Hospital can still treat some emergency patients but the most complicated cases, including blue light emergencies, will go to other hospitals.

BBC: Charing Cross Hospital's A&E unit 'saved from closure'

Consular staff last year also had to deal with nine major overseas emergencies, including the Asian tsunami and New Orleans floods.

BBC: Spain is a popular destination for hen and stag parties

More passengers are flying, which means more medical emergencies onboard that can result in serious ramifications, including death.

FORBES: What Happens If You Become Seriously Ill During a Flight

Cyprus took significant steps toward cementing a new plan Friday night, when its lawmakers approved nine bills, including three crucial ones that will restructure ailing banks, restrict financial transactions in emergencies and set up a "solidarity fund" that will act as the vehicle for raising funds from investments and contributions.

NPR: Cyprus Locked In Tough Talks As Deadline Looms

Research published in New Scientist magazine last year by Leysia Palen, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Colorado, revealed that social networking sites, including Twitter, were more effective than government emergency services when it came to distributing information during emergencies such as the Virginia Tech shooting of April 2007.

CNN: In an emergency, who do you call?