Archive Website of the UK government

Fire prevention

There are steps you can take in and outside of the home to reduce the risk of fires.

Preventing fires in your home

You can contact your local fire and rescue services for a free fire safety check using the link below (don’t call 999). Read ‘Fire safety in the home’ to find out more about booking an assessment and ways to prevent home fires.

• Fire safety in the home

• Find your local fire and rescue service

Preventing fires outside

Fires outside can be caused by things like barbecues, bonfires and fireworks. You can prevent many fires by using simple fire safety tips. Read ‘Fire safety outside the home’ for information on steps you can take to stop a fire from happening.

• Fire safety outside the home

Flooding and severe weather

Natural hazards, such as floods and other severe weather, regularly affect the UK. As well as causing damage to buildings and transport networks, they can also lead to widespread loss of gas, electricity, water and telecommunications. This can happen in areas far from where the incident has happened.

Preventing flooding in your area

If you see a blocked drain or sewer on your street or in your area, you should contact your water company or your local council.

If you see a watercourse (eg river or stream) blocked by a vehicle or fallen tree which may cause flooding, you can contact the Environment Agency helpline on 0800 80 70 60.

You can also go to the Environment Agency website to sign up for free flood warnings or to use a flood map which shows your area’s risk of flooding.

• Flooding in your area

• Report a blocked drain or flooded road to your council Opens new window

• Prepare and deal with flooding - Environment Agency Opens new window

• Find your water company Opens new window

Snow, ice and cold weather - being prepared

You can help prevent emergencies in cold weather by checking on elderly neighbours to see if they are ok and by clearing pavements of ice and snow. You can also contact your council to request road gritting or snow clearance.

You should also make sure your car is in good shape and that you have an emergency kit in the boot.

• Clearing snow and ice from pavements yourself

• How to drive safely in extreme weather (travel and transport section)

• Contact your council about snow clearance Opens new window

Heatwaves

Heatwaves can affect your health and water supplies can be put at risk. The Met Office provides forecasts and weather warnings that can help you prepare for a heatwave.

• Severe weather warnings from the Met Office Opens new window

• Download 'Looking after yourself and others during hot weather' from the Department of Health (PDF, 101K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Crime prevention

You can contact your local police station about crime prevention initiatives in your area. Read ‘Preventing and reporting a crime’ to find out what you can do and how you can get involved.

• Preventing and reporting crime (crime and justice section)

• Neighbourhood Watch website Opens new window

• Find your local police - Metropolitan Police website Opens new window

Online security - preventing 'cyber attacks' to your computer

Cyber attacks can cause serious damage to your computer. They can also make it possible for someone to access or steal the personal information you keep on your computer. To find out ways to protect your computer and keep you and your family safe online, visit the Get Safe Online website, the UK’s national internet security campaign.

• Get Safe Online - advice on how to protect yourself from internet threats Opens new window

What can you do to help prevent a terrorist attack?

Keep alert and be vigilant - look out for suspicious behaviour, vehicles or packages. Terrorists could attack at any time. They like public places, especially where people gather or travel.

If you suspect it, report it

Call 999 if you think there is an immediate danger or call the Police Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0800 789 321 to report suspicious behaviour.

• What you can do to stay safe from terrorism (crime and justice section)

• Current terrorism threat level from the Home Office Opens new window

• UK intelligence structures - Cabinet Office website Opens new window

Major industrial accidents - local and widespread impacts

Major industrial accidents can cause contamination of the environment or food supply, and the failure of gas, electricity, communications or water networks.

They can affect large geographical areas in the UK and make accessing essential services difficult. People living closest to major industrial sites – eg nuclear power stations - should receive advice from specific sites on dealing with an emergency.

• Chemicals and poisons information from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Opens new window

• Environmental quality and pollution information from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Opens new window

Public protests and trade disputes - staying aware

In certain protest and disputes, disruptions may occur. For example, trade disputes can disrupt transport networks and protests can affect safety and security. By staying aware of what is happening, you can help prepare for any emergency.

• Trade Unions and industrial action - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Opens new window

International events and emergencies - getting support

Emergencies overseas such as natural disasters, wars or terrorist attacks may affect large numbers of British nationals. People may need to get back home quickly or injured people may need to be brought back to the UK.

A network of organisations can provide information, support and advice if you or someone you know gets caught up in an emergency overseas.

• Travel advice - Foreign and Commonwealth Office Opens new window

• How the UK responds to emergencies overseas - Department for International Development (DFID) Opens new window

• Disasters Emergency Committee website Opens new window

Information on major transport accidents

Air, sea, and major road and rail accidents can all lead to loss of life, damage to the environment and significant disruption.

• Road safety advice (travel and transport section)

• Get information on transport accident investigations - Department for Transport Opens new window

Infectious diseases

Pandemic disease, such as H1N1 (swine flu), has the potential to cause severe social and economic disruption. More than 30 new infectious diseases have been identified across the world during the past 25 years. These infections (such as SARS) can spread rapidly and cause an outbreak in the UK.

• Health advice from NHS England Opens new window

• Health advice from NHS Wales Opens new window

• Health advice from NHS Scotland Opens new window

• Health advice from nidirect Opens new window

Animal diseases

Animal diseases that can’t be passed to humans, like Foot and Mouth, can affect livestock movement and sale and lead to widespread vaccination or culling.

Animal diseases that can be passed to humans from animals, such as West Nile Virus and Rabies, are rare. Outbreaks of these types of disease would mean that specific public health measures would also need to be put in place.

• Get more information on diseases at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Opens new window

• Get animal health and welfare information on Business Link Opens new window

• Avian influenza (bird flu) advice - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Opens new window

More useful links

• Support and safety in your home

• Get information on community resilience from the Cabinet Office website Opens new window

• Flood advice for people with animals from the RSPCA website Opens new window

• Download 'Volunteering and neighbourliness - helping out in severe weather' from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) (PDF, 83K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files