In short: A good UK emergency contacts list has the national numbers (999 or 112, NHS 111, police 101, power cuts 105, gas emergencies 0800 111 999), your local water and flood lines, and the people you would actually ring. Keep it on paper somewhere easy to find in a power cut, and add emergency contacts to your phone's Medical ID or emergency information.
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Key facts
- 112 is the pan-European equivalent to 999 and can be used in the UK. Source
- Call 101 to report something to the police that isn't an emergency; calls to 999 and 101 are free. Source
- If you think you can smell gas, contact the 24-hour National Gas Emergency hotline on 0800 111 999 (Great Britain). Source
- In Northern Ireland the Gas Emergency Service number is 0800 002 001 and power cuts are reported on 03457 643643. Source
- Floodline is 0345 988 1188, a 24-hour service covering England, Scotland and Wales. Source
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When the power is off and your phone is on 4%, the numbers you need are the ones you can't look up. An emergency contacts list is a single sheet with the national services, your local utility lines and the people you would actually ring. Below is what to put on it, the verified UK numbers, the Northern Ireland differences, and a printable layout you can copy.
Why keep emergency contacts on paper?
GOV.UK's Be Ready guidance advises writing important phone numbers on paper and storing them where you can find them during a power cut. Phones run out of charge, get dropped, or are locked when someone else needs to use them. A paper list also helps a neighbour, carer or babysitter who doesn't know your contacts.
Which UK emergency numbers should be on the list?
Emergency services: 999 or 112
999 connects you to the police, ambulance, fire and coastguard services. GOV.UK says to call the police on 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger. GOV.UK confirms that 112 is the pan-European equivalent to 999 and can be used in the UK. GOV.UK's police page states that calls to 999 and 101 are free.
NHS 111 (urgent medical help that isn't life-threatening)
The NHS says 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now or can't reach your GP. The same page lists separate services in other nations: NHS 24 111 in Scotland and NHS 111 Wales. For Northern Ireland, it points to nidirect for health advice, so check nidirect for your local options.
Police non-emergency: 101
Use 101 to report something that isn't an emergency, give information or make an enquiry.
Power cuts: 105
The official GOV.UK household plan lists 105 for England, Scotland and Wales, and 03457 643643 for Northern Ireland. See our power cuts guide for what to do while you wait.
Gas emergencies: 0800 111 999
If you think you can smell gas or have a gas leak, Ofgem directs people to the 24-hour National Gas Emergency hotline on 0800 111 999. This covers Great Britain. In Northern Ireland the number is different (see below). Don't attempt any gas work yourself.
Flooding: Floodline 0345 988 1188
Floodline is 0345 988 1188 (textphone 0345 602 6340), a 24-hour service covering England, Scotland and Wales. You can sign up for warnings online in England, through SEPA in Scotland and Natural Resources Wales in Wales. More in our storms and flooding guide.
Your water company: find yours on your bill
Water companies are regional, so there's no single national number. Copy the number from your water bill. If you're not sure who supplies you, the Consumer Council for Water points to Water UK's postcode checker. In some areas your water and sewerage come from different companies, so note both if that applies to you.
What's different in Northern Ireland?
Several numbers change in Northern Ireland, so NI households should use these instead:
| Need | Northern Ireland number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Power cut | 03457 643643 | GOV.UK plan template |
| Gas emergency | 0800 002 001 | nidirect |
| Report flooding | 0300 2000 100 | nidirect |
| NI Water (Waterline, 24 hours) | 0345 744 0088 | NI Water |
999, 112 and 101 still apply in Northern Ireland. Floodline does not cover Northern Ireland.
What personal contacts should you include?
Keep this part short — the people you would really call, with a landline as well as a mobile where they have one. The GOV.UK template has a table for name, mobile and landline. Consider:
- A family member or friend who lives nearby
- Someone who lives further away (useful if your whole area is affected)
- Your GP surgery and usual pharmacy
- School, nursery or childminder
- Work contacts (yours and your partner's)
- Landlord, housing association or building manager
- Home and contents insurer's claims line, with policy number
- Vet, if you have pets
- Carers, care agencies or anyone who visits a family member
- Neighbours you would check on, or who would check on you
Be Ready also suggests making a note of anyone who may need checking on and a list of regular medication and doses.
How to set up ICE contacts on your phone
ICE stands for "In Case of Emergency". Be Ready suggests adding emergency contacts or medical information to your phone, often called "ICE" or "Medical ID", so it can be seen without your passcode. It also warns that anyone with access to your phone could see this, so think about what you include and tell the person you've listed.
iPhone: Medical ID
Apple's Medical ID guide says to open the Health app, tap your profile picture on the Summary tab, then Medical ID. You can add medications, allergies and conditions, and add emergency contacts by tapping Edit next to Emergency Contacts. Turn on Show When Locked to make it available from the lock screen.
Android: emergency information
Google's Android help page explains adding medical information and emergency contacts in the Safety app, with an option to show them when the phone is locked. Google notes that the Safety app isn't on every Android device and may appear under a different name, so the steps vary by make and model.
Printable emergency contacts list (copy this layout)
Copy this table into a document or onto paper. Fill in the blanks in pen and keep one copy at home and one in your grab bag or kit.
| Who | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency services | 999 (or 112) | Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard |
| NHS urgent help | 111 | Scotland: NHS 24 111. Wales: NHS 111 Wales. NI: see nidirect |
| Police non-emergency | 101 | |
| Power cut | 105 | NI: 03457 643643 |
| Gas emergency | 0800 111 999 | NI: 0800 002 001 |
| Flooding | Floodline 0345 988 1188 | NI: 0300 2000 100 |
| Water company | ______ | From your bill |
| GP surgery | ______ | |
| Pharmacy | ______ | |
| School / nursery | ______ | |
| Insurer (claims) | ______ | Policy no.: __ |
| Landlord / building manager | ______ | |
| Vet | ______ | |
| Nearby contact | ______ | |
| Out-of-area contact | ______ | |
| Neighbour to check on | ______ | Address: __ |
If you'd rather print a ready-made version, there's a free printable contacts sheet at /free/.
Where should you keep the paper copy?
- With your household emergency plan, in a known drawer or folder
- One copy in your grab bag or 72-hour kit
- A small copy in a wallet or purse
- For older relatives, a copy by the landline
Don't add PINs, passwords or full bank details to a contacts sheet. If it's lost, the only thing someone should learn from it is who to call.
How often should you update it?
Check it whenever someone changes number, moves, or changes GP or school, and give it a full review at least once a year alongside your plan. Cross out and rewrite rather than leaving old numbers on the sheet — in a hurry, an out-of-date number costs time.
Limitations
This page is general information, not professional advice. In an emergency, call 999 and follow the instructions of the emergency services. Numbers and services differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and can change; check the linked official sources if in doubt. Phone features vary by model and software version.
Turn this guide into a written plan
Reading helps. Writing it down is what makes it work when the phones are flat. Start with the free plan builder, or get the full printable version:
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Frequently asked questions
What numbers should be on a UK emergency contacts list?
999 (or 112), NHS 111, police non-emergency 101, power cuts 105 (03457 643643 in Northern Ireland), gas emergencies 0800 111 999 (0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland), Floodline, your water company, your GP and the people you would ring.
Does 112 work in the UK?
Yes. GOV.UK says 112 is the pan-European equivalent to 999 and can be used in the UK.
How do I find my water company's number?
It is on your water bill. If you are unsure who supplies you, the Consumer Council for Water points to Water UK's postcode checker.
What is ICE on a phone?
ICE (In Case of Emergency) means storing emergency contacts and medical information on your phone. iPhones use Medical ID in the Health app, and many Android phones have emergency information in a Safety app; both can be shown on the lock screen.
Where should I keep a paper emergency contacts list?
Somewhere you can find without power, such as with your household emergency plan. GOV.UK advises writing important numbers on paper for exactly this reason.
Sources
- GOV.UK — 999 and 112: the UK's national emergency numbers
- GOV.UK — Contact the police
- NHS — When to use 111
- GOV.UK Be Ready — Household Emergency Plan (PDF template)
- GOV.UK Be Ready — Be ready for emergencies
- Ofgem — press release referencing the National Gas Emergency hotline
- nidirect — Energy, power supply and utilities
- nidirect — Flooding
- NI Water — Contact us
- GOV.UK — Sign up for flood warnings
- Consumer Council for Water — Which water company supplies my area?
- Apple Support — Set up your Medical ID
- Google Android Help — Get help in an emergency / emergency information