If you're using iOS you can set certain contacts to bypass silent mode so that you still hear their notifications/calls. I know it doesn't help with unknown numbers, but just saying in case you're not aware. I'd be surprised if you can't do the same on Android.

You can. There's DND mode and Favorite contacts. I use auto-DND scheduling option too.

Yes, thanks, I've configured that for kids and other loved ones. But I can't pick up anything else, even sales people from India manage to use a number that appears local (in The Netherlands for me), so I might miss a call from the kid's school.

I've just added the numbers of my kids school onto the list and it's been fine for me. I've never had them contact me from anything other than the schools number, but I'm in the UK and I would be very surprised if a teacher tried to call me from their mobile phone or something.

Oh wow, I knew this was a rampant problem in the US, but I didn't realise we had that at that scale here in the Netherlands as well. Hoping I can dodge the bullet a little longer...

The emergency call may not be coming from their phone.

I am in a similar predicament - if there’s an emergency call from an unknown number I won’t heat it.

> What if there is an emergency with my kids?

Hopefully rather than just stupidly giving up, they'll send an accompanying text message.