Medical emergencies
If you or someone else needs immediate medical help for a life-threatening emergency you should call 999 or go to the nearest A&E hospital. When you call 999, you should first say ‘ambulance’. You will then be asked questions about the situation, where you are, and for a number they can call you on. If necessary, they will send a paramedic.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
If you have a problem that is not life-threatening, but needs urgent help, you should call 111 or go to your nearest urgent treatment centre or walk-in centre. These centres are usually only open in the day time. If you call 111, they will ask you about the situation, and tell you what you should do next.
You should call 999 and say ‘fire’. You will be connected to the fire services who will ask about the situation and where you are.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
If you’re involved in a vehicle accident that has caused damage or injuries, here is what you need to do.
The law says that you must stop as soon as it’s safe to do so, even if it seems like a small accident.
Turn off the engine, and then turn on your the car’s hazard lights to show other road users that they need to be careful
Check whether you or anyone involved in the accident are injured. If there’s a medical emergency, call 999.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
If the accident is blocking the road, dial 999 and ask for the police.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
Give your name and address to the other people who were involved. The law requires this, but you don’t have to give your phone number.
Ask for their name and address. If they won’t tell you, dial 101 on your phone to speak to the police.
If you have hit a parked car and the owner isn’t there, write your details on a piece of paper and slide this under the windscreen wipers so they can find it.
At this stage, it’s usually best not to admit that the accident was your fault. The police or insurance companies will decide that later.
If possible make a note of the following:
If there are other witnesses, you could ask for their contact details now.
You should report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you couldn’t exchange contact details with the other driver, or if anyone was injured. You can do this online, or at a police station.
If you want to make an insurance claim, contact the insurer as soon as you can. If there is very little damage, such as a small mark or scratch, you might not want to make an insurance claim.
The UK has rescue services that can help you if you are in trouble at sea or in mountain areas. Call 999 and ask for the coast guard or mountain rescue.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
You should open the windows and leave your house immediately. You should then call the National Gas Emergency Service number on 0800 111 999, who will send out a gas engineer.
No