If you're in the UK and you venture into wild places, please read this.
You can now contact the emergency services by Text (SMS) message, but only if you register your mobile phone first.
The website is www.emergencySMS.org.uk
It's for use in those occasions where a voice call won't go through, possibly because the signal comes and goes, but you might get a text message out. However, you will only know your text has got through when you receive a reply from the emergency services.
The system was originally set up for deaf and hard of hearing people.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is urging all hill-goers to register now, not when they're stuck up a mountain. Kayakers might want to do the same. But remember it's to be used when...
* Life is at risk
* Crime/trouble is happening now
* Someone is injured or threatened
* Person committing crime is near
* There is a fire or people trapped
* You need an ambulance urgently
* Someone is in trouble, or missing, at sea
* Someone is in trouble on the cliffs or on the shoreline
Registration is very quick and easy.
SMS the word 'register' to 999.
Read the reply and if you're happy, SMS reply with the word 'yes'.
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