How to call for help if you can’t speak or move

Being unable to speak or move after an accident or emergency can be scary, particularly if you live alone. If you can’t get up to alert a neighbour, how can you get help?

Calling an ambulance

Many people assume that you dial 999, provide an address and wait for the blue lights, however, there is more to an emergency phone call than this.

In most cases, the operator will ask for more details about what has happened, who is injured, what their symptoms are (for example, are they breathing, are they conscious, etc.) and, most importantly, where you are. It’s likely that they will have already requested the ambulance, but they need to take as many details as they can to determine how dangerous the situation is. They may even stay on the phone until the ambulance arrives and can talk you through how to take action where necessary, such as perform CPR or stop a bleed.

Whether you’re making the call for yourself or someone else, the most important thing is to remain calm and speak to them slowly and concisely. Panicking and speaking quickly may slow the process down.

You can also dial 112 from anywhere in Europe, including the UK, to call the local emergency services. This can be useful to know if you’re abroad.

However, dialling 999 or 112 aren’t the only ways you can call an ambulance for help. There are other alternatives that can be used if you are in a distressing situation and unable to get to a phone or incapable of speaking.

How to get an ambulance if you can’t speak or move

If you have any ongoing health problems and worry that there may be a time when you need to call an ambulance without speaking, there are certain precautions that you can put in place before an incident occurs.

Emergency SMS service

First, you could subscribe to the emergency SMS service so that, if an accident happens and you cannot speak, you can text 999 with your address and information about what has happened. You must pre-register for this system by texting 999 with the word ‘REGISTER’. Follow the instructions they provide so that this system is available to you in the future should you need to use it.

RelayUK app

Alternatively, you could speak to the emergency services using a Relay Assistant. Either use the RelayUK app by tapping the 999 button and type the service you need and your address, or call 18000.

You’ll be connected to 999 and a Relay Assistant will be able to message you to ask which service you require. Use the textphone screen to communicate with them instead of speaking, and help will be on its way. The app should be downloaded in advance for future use.

You can find out more about the Emergency SMS service and RelayUK app on the Relay UK website.

Personal alarm

You may benefit from having an Age Co personal alarm. Personal alarms are a way for you to alert the emergency services even when you can’t get up or talk. Many people find a personal alarm more convenient and easier to use than an app or smartphone.

The Age Co personal alarm device should be always worn around your neck or wrist and, when pressed, will call the 24-hour emergency resolution team. They will try to speak with you through the personal alarm equipment. If there is no response, they will either ring your phone to see if they can speak to you or, if they can’t get through, they will contact one of your chosen emergency contacts. If the emergency resolution team cannot speak with your contacts or you need medical assistance, they will call the emergency services. Either way, help will be on its way shortly. It’s a good idea to give your emergency contact a key or access to your key safe, if you have one, so they can enter the property quickly if the door is locked. The ability to get help quickly makes personal alarms excellent devices if you can’t move or speak.

Some personal alarms have built-in fall detection that will automatically make an alarm call when the device detects the wearer has fallen.

Find out more about personal alarms from Age Co.

How to call the police when you can’t speak

You can use the emergency SMS or RelayUK methods above to communicate with the police if you cannot move, however the police have their own system that you can use should you find yourself unable to talk.

Silent Solution system

The Silent Solution system enables a 999 caller to inform the police that they’re in a genuine emergency but cannot talk. This might be because they’re scared or in a vulnerable situation. For example, if a person was to break into your home, you may want to call the police without alerting the burglars that someone is there.

In this situation, you can dial 999 and stay silent. If you don’t respond, the operator will ask which service you require. If you still don’t answer, they will ask what number you have dialled, to ensure you meant to call the emergency services. If they still have silence on the phone, they’ll ask you to cough, tap the handset or make some sort of noise to let them know that you need help. They will connect the call to another system that asks you to press 55 on your keypad. Doing this will put you through to the police so you can communicate directly with them.

If you’re phoning them from a landline, they may be able to track your location. However, if you’re on a mobile device, they can’t pinpoint a specific location. Therefore, you would still need to dictate your address to them. If you’re unable to do this, you could text a friend or family member asking them to call the police on your behalf.

Using a personal alarm to call the police

A personal alarm can be used to get help in all kinds of emergencies. Sometimes hearing the emergency resolution team speaking through the personal alarm equipment may be enough to deter an intruder or unwelcome visitor.

Can the emergency services track your location?

The emergency services are unable to track your location from a mobile device. They may be able to get your location if you’re phoning from a landline, but this isn’t always guaranteed either. When you make a personal alarm call, the emergency resolution team will always know your address or GPS coordinates if you are using an out-and-about personal alarm with GPS functionality.

Summary

• You can call 999 or 112 in the UK for emergency help, but it's important to stay calm and give clear information about what has happened and where you are.
• If you're unable to speak, services like emergency SMS and the RelayUK app allow you to contact the emergency services by text, but you must register or download them in advance.
• The Silent Solution system lets you alert the police by pressing 55 on your phone keypad during a 999 call if you’re in danger and can’t speak.
• A personal alarm allows you to call for help at the touch of a button, even if you can’t move or speak.
• Some personal alarms have fall detection and GPS tracking to get help to you quickly, whether you're at home or out and about.
• Emergency services can’t always track your location, especially from a mobile, so having a personal alarm with location features can offer added peace of mind.