More than two million people in the North West are eligible but not signed up to a vital emergency support register.

The Priority Services Register helps utility companies, including energy suppliers, electricity, gas and water networks to look after customers who have extra communication, access or safety needs.

It helps them tailor their services to support households who need extra help with everyday energy matters like bills, and also in the unlikely event of a power cut, gas or water supply interruption.

To date more than 1.25 million people in the North West are signed up; but it is thought a further 2.3 million more are eligible. Joining the register is voluntary.

There is a wide range of eligibility criteria for the Priority Services Register, including people of pensionable age, and people living with disabilities, as well as homes where there are children aged under five, or living with anxiety or depression.

You get extra help and tailored support if there is a situation where water, electric or gas goes off in a local community. It also opens up a range of extra support services, such as translation of literature and home safety checks (if eligible).

As the weather turns colder, Lancashire's resilience leaders joined with Electricity North West, Cadent and United Utilities, to urge people to check if they are eligible and, if so, join the register now. Sign up at www.thepsr.co.uk

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Lee, Executive Chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, said: “All emergency services work closely with partners in peacetime to try and prevent incidents from occurring; however, when a major incident does happen, we are ready to respond and have strong relationships with our stakeholders in the utility sector to get the problem resolved as soon as possible.

“The Priority Services Register is an excellent tool to help us identify where we prioritise our resources – it essentially helps us get the right people to some of those in the most vulnerable circumstances, including the elderly or those with disabilities who may need extra support, as well as those with young children or those with at-home medical needs. In an emergency, it could also help the fire, police or ambulance plan for ongoing care with other healthcare providers.

“I would encourage anyone who qualifies, or knows someone who does, to sign up. It’s completely free and is another line of support should you ever need it.”

You are eligible to join the Priority Services Register if you or others in your household:

• Use medical equipment reliant on electricity or water

• Are pregnant, or living with children under five years of age

• Are blind, or partially sighted

• Are deaf, or hard of hearing

• Have a chronic illness

• Have anxiety, depression, or any mental health condition

• Have a disability

• Are of a pensionable age

• Have a loss of impairment of smell

• Need documents translated into another format or language

• Temporarily need extra support due to life changes, such as post hospital recovery or bereavement.

Lancashire Resilience Forum also has advice on what to do in an emergency, including what you should have in your emergency bag should you need to leave home quickly.

For more information on protecting yourself or your business, visit www.lancashireprepared.org.uk