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What to do in a major incident

Emergencies are nearly always unexpected. There's often panic and confusion. At times like these, it's difficult to know what to do or where to go.

Following the simple guidelines below can help you cope and survive.

Go in, Stay in, Tune in.

• If you believe you may be in danger, the best advice is to go inside a safe building, and stay inside until you are advised to do otherwise. Tune in to local radio or TV for information.
• If you find yourself in the middle of an emergency, your common sense and instincts will usually tell you what to do. However, it is important to:
• Call 999 if people are injured or if there is a threat to life
• Not put yourself or others in danger
• Follow the advice of the emergency services
• Try to remain calm and think before acting, and try to reassure others
• Check for injuries - remember to help yourself before attempting to help others

Any major incident happening in the North East would involve NEAS. Front and backline staff go through regular training exercises, both practical and theory, to ensure they know exactly what to do in the heat of the moment.

For more information on our emergency preparedness capabilities you can click here.