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PLEASE register your mobile with 999 emergency services! Do it now!

18 replies

Squiff70 · 14/08/2019 21:24

If ever you find yourself in a situation where you can't speak, you can text 999 but you HAVE to register before you find yourself in an emergency!

I had to text for an ambulance in 2018 when I had severe pneumonia and couldn't breathe/talk. I spent a month on mechanical ventilation and placed in an induced coma in critical care so texting 999 helped save my life. I had registered my mobile previously.

Test the word 'register' to 999 from your mobile phone and they will reply to confirm you're registered. This may not be instant. For more info, search "register text 999".

Reasons you may be unable to phone the emergency services include, but are not restricted to:

Anaphylaxis
Restricted breathing
Severe injury to throat or chest
If you are deaf or mute
If you are in a fire and talking may increase smoke inhalation
In a terrorist or hostage situation where talking may reveal your hiding place

Do it now please. It takes 10 seconds and may save your life or somebody else's. I'm not posting this to be dramatic - you just never know when you might need it.

Thank you.

OP posts:
KaleidoscopeEyes · 14/08/2019 21:29

Done. Thanks for the advice!

Noroof · 14/08/2019 21:30

A quick Google suggests that the emergency services advise against people using this unless they have a disability that impairs speech or hearing. They are concerned that if too many people register then it may impact on those who actually need it. Might need to check further

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Squiff70 · 14/08/2019 21:31

@TripleSeptic I read that too, but it was published over two years ago and I hope that those issues have since been resolved.

OP posts:
PinkPanther27 · 14/08/2019 21:33

Would also be very useful in a domestic abuse setting.

KaleidoscopeEyes · 14/08/2019 21:40

Yes I googled it first. All seems above board. Certainly can't do any harm.

Cabezona · 14/08/2019 21:55

Am I being simple here? Is there a step after texting register? What does this actually do? Will they know it's you and any helpful info??

Cabezona · 14/08/2019 21:56

You could register but still call by accident and nothing is solved

pinkoneblueone · 14/08/2019 22:13

Thank you,

I work in a book makers and this would be useful in the event of a robbery

Squiff70 · 15/08/2019 21:23

@Cabezona They text back and ask for more information, such as whether or not the patient is breathing or what age they are. The more (brief) details you put in your original text IN AN EMERGENCY ONLY the better as it'll speed up their response time.

OP posts:
RocketRacoonsFurryBalls · 15/08/2019 21:55

Done, thank you.

springydaff · 15/08/2019 22:13

I just did this and discovered I've done it already.

I despair at myself sometimes.

U2HasTheEdge · 16/08/2019 01:58

I just did it and now I have got an icon on my phone saying all other phone numbers are blocked from calling me for two hours in case 999 need to get through.

U2HasTheEdge · 16/08/2019 01:59

Ahh they have been unblocked, not blocked.

Stevienickssleeves · 16/08/2019 02:26

This is not designed to be used by the masses. It is for deaf and speech impaired service users

"A spokesman for BT said that it "did not recommend" that people without a disability use the service.

He added that if a caller is unable to speak, the "Silent Solutions" rule is a better way to communicate with emergency staff.

This means that a silent 999 caller can let operators know that they are experiencing a real emergency by responding to prompts to cough or tap the handset, or by pressing "55" on their keypad."

Squiff70 · 16/08/2019 10:41

@Stevienickssleeves

fullfact.org/online/dialling-55-doesnt-track-location/

OP posts:
Stuffofawesome · 16/08/2019 10:47

There's also this www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-49319760
Not sure how it differs from gps

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