Guide · Signalling

Talking to rescuers

When you reach the emergency services, clear and calm information helps them send the right help to the right place quickly. A little preparation means you won't forget anything important.

Making the call

Call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America). Ask for the service you need. In remote areas, ask for the police and mountain rescue, or the coastguard near the sea, if that service exists where you are.

If calls won't connect, try a text. Many countries let you text the emergency services, though some require you to register your phone first.

What to tell them

Try to cover these points in order:

1. What has happened. For example: "My friend has fallen and hurt their leg."
2. Where you are. This is the most important part (see below).
3. How many people are with you, and how many are hurt.
4. Injuries or illness, and whether anyone is unconscious, bleeding heavily or very cold.
5. What you have: shelter, warm clothes, food, water, a torch, a whistle.
6. Your phone number and how much battery you have left.
7. The weather where you are, especially wind, cloud and visibility.

Giving your location

• Read out your coordinates from the app, digit by digit. Say whether they are latitude and longitude, and include any minus signs or the letters N, S, E or W.
• If you have a paper map, give a grid reference.
• Describe what you can see: the nearest path or road, a lake, a building, the side of a hill, which way the slope faces.
• Say where you started, where you were heading and roughly how long ago you set off.

Many phones also send your location automatically when you call the emergency number, but don't rely on it — always give it yourself.

Listen and follow instructions

• Answer questions calmly and let them guide the call.
• Write down anything they ask you to do, and any call-back number.
• Don't hang up until they tell you to.

After the call

1. Stay where you are unless told to move. Rescuers will head for the place you described.
2. Keep your phone on but save power: turn on low power mode, close other apps and turn down the screen.
3. Answer calls from unknown numbers — it may be the rescue team.
4. Make yourself visible and listen for rescuers. Use a whistle or torch: six blasts or flashes, then a minute's pause.

Prepare before you go

Leave your plans with someone at home: your route, who's with you and when to raise the alarm. It gives rescuers a head start.

This article is in the Grid Survivor app, searchable with no signal. Get the app · £4.99