When language is a matter of life or death : Increasingly, emergency services operate in international situations in which several different languages may be used. Misunderstandings in these circumstances can have potentially fatal results so the need for clear mutual understanding is of vital importance. This project has established a sound-enabled, open-access database on the Internet of terms used in this field. With nearly 1500 entries in four languages, it provides a basis for improving the foreign language competence of emergency services personnel. Complemented by a CD-ROM and a print manual, the project marks a fresh step in enhancing international co-operation in these dangerous situations. This project started in 2000 and lasted 28 months.