Have you registered for 999 text service?


Have you registered your mobile phone for the emergency text service which allows people to text 999 when voice calls cannot be made but there is sufficient signal to send a text? This is often the case on the hills and the system has been used successfully to call out mountain rescue.

Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Advisor at the MCofS, said, “You can contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. This is particularly useful for those needing 999 assistance in the hills when mobile reception is poor and there is not enough signal to make a call.”

However you can only use this service if you have registered your phone with Emergency SMS first.To register, text "register" to 999. You will get a reply and will then need to follow the instructions you are sent. The text system is meant to be used only when voice calls cannot be made and the system does not guarrantee that texts will be delivered, so users should wait until they receive a reply from the emergency services before assuming help has been summoned. The system was originally set up to help deaf and hard of hearing people, but is now available for all hillwalkers.

Full details and instructions are available at http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/