If you are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing, it can be difficult to contact the emergency services.
In recent times, changes have slowly been made where emergencies can be reported by other methods – via text/RelayUK/999BSL.
Contacting emergency services via text
BT offer the emergencySMS service – but you need to register with it first (it’s free). To register, simply send the word “register” to 999. You’ll get an automatic text reply – read it all and then reply with the word “Yes“. You’ll then get a text telling you that your mobile is now registered.
If you aren’t sure if you’ve already registered, simply send the word “register” again to 999 – it’ll tell you if you’ve already registered, and if not it will tell you what to do next.
When contacting 999 via text in an emergency, make sure you include:
- The service you need: ambulance, police, fire or coastguard
- What’s the emergency?
- Where’s the emergency? Be precise, including the name of the road and town and, if possible, more details like the house number or nearby landmarks or main roads.
Contacting emergency services via RelayUK
If you are a RelayUK user (formerly TypeTalk/Text Relay/Next Generation Text Service), open the app and then switch back to your phone dialler. Dial 999 or 18000. Whilst the call is in progress, switch back to the app and press the “Join” button. You’ll then be connected to an emergency operator at RelayUK.
Contacting emergency services via 999BSL
Download the 999BSL app from your smartphone’s app store. Open it and press the big red button to call 999 with a BSL interpreter.