Finding yourself in an emergency (e.g., medical emergency, accident, crime, flooding, fire, infectious disease, etc.) while being an expat in the UK is possible. Hence, knowing what steps to take in the case of an emergency can potentially save your or other people's lives. It's important first to assess the situation with as little panic as possible, prioritise your own safety before you try to assist others and get help before offering first aid.
Call 999 for an ambulance, fire, the police and coastguard in the UK
The 999 number is known as the world's oldest emergency telephone number. It was launched in London in 1937. Dialling 999 will take you to four emergency control centres (i.e., police, ambulance, fire, coastguard) to select the most relevant to your emergency. You must call 999 immediately, for example, in a medical emergency, if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. Such medical emergencies are loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, serious burns (e.g., from chemicals), severe allergy symptoms such as anaphylaxis, and chest pain and shortness of breath, which could be signalling a heart attack. Also, if you get involved or witness a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, or a fall from height, react as soon as possible and call 999.
The person on the other side of the line will ask you some questions, such as your location, phone number, and a short description of the incident to respond as quickly as possible. While waiting for the emergency response, try to stay calm and call the ambulance service again if you notice changes in the patient's condition. When the paramedics arrive, consider whether you can ease their work by providing information on the patient's medical history or known allergies.
Good to know:
If you have a speech impediment or hearing impairment, sign up for the emergency SMS service by texting “Register” to 999 and following the instructions. To reach 999, you don't need credit or a signal. If you remain silent during a 999 call, you will still be sent help as long as you enter “55”, which informs call respondents that talking could worsen your situation.
Useful links:
Register your phone with the emergency SMS
Call 111 in the UK
If you are in an emergency but aren't sure how severe it is or what to do, call the NHS's number 111 for urgent medical help. The trained adviser will ask questions about your or the patient's symptoms and advise you accordingly. They will book an arrival time at an A&E, connect you to a nurse, or guide you through self-care.
Good to know:
111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you don't speak English, you can ask for a translator.
Important:
For an ambulance, call directly 112.
Useful links:
Answer symptoms-related questions
Go to A&E in the UK
An Accident and Emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and deals with life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, allergic reactions, severe burns, stroke, and major trauma. The procedure for arriving at the A&E alone is different from being driven by ambulance. Firstly, you must register at reception and answer a few questions. Then, you will go through the preliminary assessment (triage) for the medical practitioner to determine the urgency and nature of your treatment. Bear in mind that if your condition isn't critical, you may have to wait up to four hours at the A&E before a doctor sees you while other patients with more severe symptoms are being treated.
Attention:
Not all hospitals have an A&E department. You can use the search link to find the closest A&E near you.
Good to know:
Some hospitals have a separate A&E department dedicated to children's care.
Important:
With NHS login, you can access online services, including your medical records.
Visit an urgent treatment centre in the UK
Urgent treatment centres, also known as walk-in centres or minor injury units, are established for less severe and non-life-threatening medical emergencies such as sprains and strains, bites and stings, ear and throat infections, stomach pains, and emergency contraception. Urgent treatment centres are complementary to GP and A&E services without replacing any of the two. To be seen, you don't have to register or book an appointment; you can walk in and present your symptoms.
Emergency powers in the UK
Emergency powers date back to ancient Rome and refer to extraordinary (but temporary) measures that may affect fundamental rights (e.g., freedom of movement) in the name of resolving a crisis (e.g., COVID-19). Emergency powers are governments' last resource, administered only in exceptional circumstances during which rapid response is required for the public good. In the case of emergency powers, the government can make regulations without an act of parliament and take actions that it wouldn't usually be allowed to take. Hence, the Public Health Act 1984 sometimes conflicts with the Human Rights Act because the former dictates measures that can be against human rights (e.g., the right to protest). However, it's essential to understand that the measures dictated by the Public Health Act and the Coronavirus Act are time-limited, used with care, and are proportionate to the threat to human health.
The British Red Cross
The British Red Cross supports people and communities across the UK affected by a regional or national emergency (e.g., fire) and helps them maintain their dignity and recover as soon as possible. The role of the British Red Cross is "auxiliary" by law, meaning that it supports the UK government's function and helps authorities coordinate and meet public humanitarian needs during crises. Hence, the British Red Cross is neither a governmental nor a non-governmental organisation — it's a private organisation with public functions.
Good to know:
The British Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, with millions of members and volunteers in 192 countries.
Work duties during an emergency in the UK
You can ask for time off work if you or your dependant is involved in an emergency such as mental or physical illness. Also, if you or your dependant's pre-existing conditions are worsening or you have to take care of someone who went through a traumatic event (e.g., mugging). Lastly, you can ask for time off work if your child has been injured or suspended from school.
Emergency tips in the UK
Of course, it's not advisable to live your life as if something terrible will happen, but preparing for an emergency and having an emergency plan can save your and other people's lives. Whether you live alone or with your family, create a household emergency plan, including a "grab bag" with essential items (e.g., a torch, money, water, a phone charger, copies of documents, etc.) should you ever need to rush outside the house in an emergency. Also, suppose there's an emergency, and you must stay in the house for a few days. In that case, store bottled drinking water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, and baby and pet supplies somewhere in the house. In serious emergencies such as flooding, fire, or bomb warning, the local councils in the UK provide temporary shelter to evacuees in emergency rest centres (i.e., schools, leisure sports centres, churches, etc.).
Last but not least, consider having an "emergency friend", even though it may be pretty challenging when you are a freshly arrived expat in the UK. Emergency friends are usually neighbours, relatives, or someone you trust with a spare set of your house keys, so they can look after your pet if you are not at home or babysit your children in the event of a work or family emergency.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
