Protect yourself

Prepare an emergency pack of essential items. This should include anything you might need if you have to leave your home at short notice.

Fill in and print out an emergency contact card for all family members to carry and reference in the event of an emergency. This could be particularly useful in a situation where a pre-agreed meeting point is needed.

This is your information. Do not send it to Lancashire Resilience Forum or its partner organisations.

Make sure insurance cover for your house and contents is valid.

Always have a first aid kit prepared and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

You may even want to consider learning first aid. This could provide you with life-saving skills to help your family, friends and others in an emergency. You can book a course with St John Ambulance.

Fit and regularly test household smoke alarms as these can be a critical first warning in the event of a fire. You can get advice about this from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

Stock up on food, ensuring you have enough to last three days.

Know the quickest route out of your home and neighbourhood. Prepare escape routes and where to shelter. Note at least two ways out from each room if possible and decide on appropriate places to shelter if you couldn’t get out of the building (e.g. the upper floor in the event of a flood).

Know your emergency contacts. Keep all emergency phone numbers stored in your phone and in a notebook by your telephone if you use a landline. You may want to keep a copy of these numbers in your purse or wallet too.

Key numbers include:

999 – The primary emergency number for the UK, used for urgent assistance from the police, fire brigade, ambulance, or coastguard. Dial 999 in any life-threatening situation.

112 – The alternative emergency number, which can also be used to contact emergency services across the UK and the EU. Dial 112 for the same services as 999. 

Police Services

999 or 112 – For immediate police assistance in an emergency.

101 – For non-emergency situations where you need police assistance or to report a crime that is not urgent. The 101 service is available across the UK. 

Fire Services

999 or 112 – To report a fire or request fire brigade services.

Ambulance Services

999 or 112 – For medical emergencies requiring an ambulance.

 Coastguard Services

999 or 112 – For emergencies at sea, such as rescues or distress calls.

 Non-Emergency Medical Services

111 – For non-emergency medical advice and assistance. The 111 service is available across England, Scotland, and parts of Northern Ireland.

 Utility and Service Emergencies

• Gas Emergency – Dial 0800 111 999 if you smell gas or suspect a gas leak.

• Power Cut – Dial 105 to report a power cut and get information about power outages in your area.

Make sure you and your family know how to use 999 responsibly. Refer to police guidance.

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