The emergency services are trained to cope with a wide range of emergency situations but there is a lot that you can do to help them and yourself.
Fire prevention and safety
- reduce fire hazards in your home
- fit and maintain smoke alarms – at least one on every floor
- most fire deaths and injuries occur while people are sleeping. Plan an escape route should a fire break out at night
- if there is a fire, get out, stay out and call 999
- never use the lift
- if moving or trapped in smoke stay close to the floor where the air is cleaner
- if a door feels hot, do not open it, as it probably means there is a fire on the other side
- remember – never re-enter your home until the Fire and Rescue Service has made it safe.
Bombs
If there is a bomb warning at your place of work, follow the advice of those in charge.
If a bomb goes off in your building, look for the safest way out.
If you are trapped in debris:
- stay close to a wall and tap on pipes so that rescuers can hear you
- do not use matches or lighters in case of gas leaks.
If a bomb goes off outside your building, stay inside (away from windows, lifts and outer doors) in case there is a second bomb in the area.
If you saw the explosion, stay in the area in a safe place and tell the police what you saw.
The Fire and Rescue Service has become equipped in recent years to decontaminate large numbers of people quickly. This involves showering with soap and water and then dressing in temporary clothing that would be provided. It is important that this takes place where the incident happened so that other areas, including homes, are not contaminated. If necessary you would also be assessed by health service personnel.
Floods
Precautions against flooding
If you live in an area with a history of flooding, prepare to defend your property now, before any threat occurs.
- obtain sandbags from a builders' merchant to enable you to prepare for a flood before it arrives
- store sandbags, frames and boards for shutter barriers and covers for air bricks or other vents
- co-operate with neighbours to install joint defences where appropriate
- visit the Environment Agency website (follow the link on the right) for information on other measures that you can take to protect your home against flooding.
When there has been a flood warning
You can get updates on the likelihood of flooding in your area from Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
Before the flood:
- move valuable items, including important documents, to high levels in your home
- bring indoors items which may cause damage or be damaged
- ensure you have bottles of drinking water in case the water supply becomes contaminated
- the council may be able to supply sand bags
- remember that water can enter the house through whatever means it normally leaves the house.
We have a limited supply of sand bags for residents, during emergency situations. We distribute these via our contractor, to enable you to protect your home from flooding. However, you are still advised to obtain your own sandbags, as our contractor may not be able to reach all properties before flooding occurs.
During the flood:
- never try to drive through flood water – 80% of flood deaths occur in vehicles.
- avoid walking through flood water, streams or rivers in full flow – just six inches of rapidly moving water can knock a person over.
- if you have to evacuate your home or workplace turn off those utilities you can access.
- avoid driving unless your journey is absolutely necessary.
After the flood
- check structural damage to buildings.
- if it is dark, use a torch, not candles.
- throw away all foods, including canned goods, which have come into contact with flood water.
Chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) incident
Move away from the immediate source of danger.
Wait for the emergency services to arrive and examine you and, if necessary, decontaminate you.
If you go home untreated you could contaminate others and make any incident worse.
If there is a major power cut, turn off electrical appliances that will automatically switch on when power is restored – if several restart at once, they may overload the system. Tune in to local radio for advice and updates using a battery powered radio.
In all of these situations – keep calm, think before you act and listen to the advice of the emergency services.
Emergency plans exist in all areas of the UK
The police, fire and ambulance services have tried and tested plans for responding to incidents, from fires to explosions, whether they are at your home, your school or affecting transport networks.
Health and hospitals
Emergency equipment, vaccines and antibiotics are stored around the UK and are quickly available to doctors.
Emergency planning exercises
Every year, many exercises are held involving the emergency services and all agencies responsible for recovery. These exercises practise our response to a range of emergencies, including terrorism, by testing our preparedness.