Emergency situations
There are many emergency situations that you may come across. Find out more information at the links below. This page cannot cover all eventualities.
Fire
Information on fire and fire safety:
- Fire prevention
- Planning an escape
- What to do if there's a fire
- Recovering from a fire
- Clearing up after a fire
Chemical incidents
Biological and nuclear incidents
Information is available if there happens to be biological or nuclear incidents that occur at civil sights such as a nuclear power station.
Public health emergencies
Animal diseases
Acts of terrorism
If you witness an act of terrorism either at home or abroad there are three basic steps that you should follow:
RUN - to a place of safety. This is better than trying to surrender or negotiate.
HIDE - it is better to hide than confront. Barricade yourself in, turn your phone to silent and use only when it safe to do so.
TELL - Alert police. Make sure you know the local emergency number - in the UK it’s 999, for EU countries it’s 112.
Further advice on staying safe during an act of terrorism is available from both the PSNI website and through a video produced by the National Police Chief's Council.
Emergencies involving the supply of utilities
Who to contact if there is an emergency involving the supply of water, gas or electricity:
Emergency at sea
If you find yourself in an emergency situation or spot someone else in trouble at sea, phone 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
If you're in life-threatening distress, make a Mayday call.