Emergency SMS Text Service

The Emergency SMS Text Service is for people who are Deaf, Hard of hearing and speech impaired people.

You need to register your mobile before you can use this service.

To register do the following things

• Text the word REGISTER to 999.
• You’ll then receive an automatic text response which contains some information about the service. It’s advisable to read the information.
• Once you are ready to continue with the registration, reply to the message by texting back YES.
• You’ll then receive a ‘success’ message, confirming that your mobile is now registered.

If you're unsure if you have registered before, you can send a text again.

You will receive confirmation or be advised that you have a problem.

Once registered you can contact the emergency services including Fire, Police, Ambulance or Coast Guard.

When you choose which service is needed, you need to include the address where the emergency services are needed and also your name.

Remember this is for Emergencies only, for example,

• Someone’s life is at risk.
• A crime is happening now.
• Someone is injured or threatened.
• There is a fire or people are trapped.
• You need an ambulance urgently.
• Someone is in trouble on the cliffs, on the shoreline or is missing at sea.

A good example of an emergency text message is: Police. Man breaking into a car outside of Flicks cinema, Haxby Road, York YO32

Then send the text to 999.

You can find out more information by visiting the RelayUK website - https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/contact-999-using-relay-uk.html

In an emergency, it is suggest you use emergencySMS to contact the emergency services only if you've no other option. This is because it will take longer than the standard voice 999