Emergency guidelines
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EMERGENCY LINES
Crime 999
Critical injury 999
Fire 999
Flat crises 0203 837 7007
Gas/CO leaks 0800 111 999
Power loss 0800 3163 105
Sewage spill 0800 3169 800
Water floods 0845 9200 800
Water loss 0845 9200 800
In most life-threatening emergencies, help is not far away in the capital. Whether the crisis is a fire, a flood, a gas leak or personal injury, the city’s emergency services can be alerted 24/7 on the hotlines here.
For flat and block night-time emergencies, such as a water leak from a neighbouring flat, our managing agents Michael Richards (MR) offer an out-of-hours advice line from 5pm to 9am on 0203 837 7007.
Crime
IF YOU HEAR SUSPICIOUS SOUNDS:
Call the police on 999
To improve your security, see the GUIDES here, along with the London Metropolitan Police’s advice.
For tips on vigilance, see Living at EBM.
Critical illness
If you see someone in trouble on the river, call 999 for RNLI Lifeboats – tidal currents and ‘cold water shock’ can defeat the strongest swimmers.
IF LIFE IS AT RISK, call 999 for an ambulance.
LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES include:
• chest pain
• difficulty in breathing
• unconsciousness
• severe loss of blood
• severe burns or scalds
• choking
• fitting or concussion
• drowning
• severe allergic reactions
Fire
IF YOU SMELL SMOKE OR SEE FLAMES:
Raise the alarm and call 999.
Get everyone out and close the door.
Leave through the nearest fire escape.
If the smoke is thick, crawl along the floor.
If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL to smother the flames.
FIRE ESCAPES at EBM:
The roof exit at the top of each stairwell. You can get access to other stairwells from the roof.
The ground-floor exit from the front door.
IF YOUR ESCAPE IS BLOCKED:
Find a safe room away from the fire, ideally with a window and phone.
Close the door and lay bedding at its base to block the smoke.
Open the window and call for help.
IF THE FIRE IS ELSEWHERE:
Stay put and call 999 for advice, UNLESS you’re directly affected by smoke or heat, in which case leave through the nearest fire escape (as above).
FOR FULL GUIDES:
See London Fire Brigade’s helpsheets and video in the LINES, LINKS, GUIDES box here:
lfb-home-fire-safety-guide-for-high-rise-f6200-june-2018
Download London Fire Brigade’s helpsheets
lfb-home-fire-safety-guide-for-high-rise-f6200-june-2018
Flat crises
FOR NIGHT-TIME FLAT CRISES,
Michael Richard’s night team (0203 837 7007) can help with:
1) BLOCK EMERGENCIES:
Entry systems and communal doors
Communal lights
Sewage and water pumps
Communal drains
Vehicle access gates
2) INTER-FLAT ISSUES:
Water leaks between flats
Sewage leaks
Night-time noise or nuisance
FOR DAY-TIME PROBLEMS, contact
MR’s day team (020 8232 6620).
Gas leaks
IF YOU SMELL GAS:
Call National Gas Emergency 0800 111 999.
Open all doors and windows for air.
Turn off your gas supply at the meter – see the British Gas video here/ask on 0800 111 999.
Do not turn on/off any electrical or electronic switches – this includes your mobile.
Extinguish all naked flames.
Don’t smoke or strike matches.
Don’t use any electrical locks, doors or entry phones.
If you need to open an electrically alarmed door, do so manually.
Gas poisoning (CO)
YOU CAN’T SEE IT, SMELL IT OR TASTE IT, BUT IT CAN KILL YOU
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced by unsafe gas and solid fuel burners, and unlined chimney flues.
CO poisoning starves your cells of oxygen, causing illness, paralysis and even death.
YOUR BEST DEFENCES ARE:
an audible CO alarm;
an annual check of your gas appliances and chimney flues by a Gas Safe Engineer;
awarenss of the symptoms >> see the guides and video here.
STAY SAFE IN THREE STEPS
1. SPOT THE SIX SYMPTOMS
2. TEST YOUR GAS APPLIANCES
Call a Gas Safe Engineer for a yearly check.
Line all chimney flues in gas-tight steel.
3. FIT AN AUDIBLE CO ALARM
Power loss
A LOSS OF POWER CAN BE:
1) Local – ring UK Power Networks (0800 316 3105/0333 323 2105) or try the interactive map.
2) Provider-based – check with your provider.
3) Block-based – ring Michael Richards (0203 837 7007).
4) Flat-based – first check if it’s a trip switch (see the video here). If it’s not a trip switch, ring an electrician.
TIPS DURING A POWER OUTAGE:
For communication – keep a corded phone.
For light – use a torch. If forced to use candles, be careful – see this guide.
For warmth – wear several layers.
For neighbours – keep an eye on the elderly or ill, who are especially vulnerable to loss of heat.
Sewage spills
IF YOU HAVE A SEWAGE OVERFLOW:
Ring Thames Water on 0800 3169 800.
Turn off gas, electricity and mains water.
Safeguard children and pets from the floodwater, which will be contaminated.
Clean up safely with disinfectant and rubber gloves – visit this page.
Water leaks
IF YOUR FLAT SPRINGS A LEAK:
Turn off all water appliances.
Turn off mains water supply from the water valve in the communal cupboards. Turn the tap clockwise. To see how, watch Thames Water’s video here.
IF ANOTHER FLAT IS RESPONSIBLE:
Ask them to turn off their water/or call a plumber.
IF YOU CAN’T REACH THE FLAT-OWNER:
Ring MR’s helpline 0203 837 7007.
IF A BURST PIPE FLOODS YOUR FLAT:
Ring Thames Water on 0845 9200 800.
Water loss
To avoid unnecessary water loss, turn taps off fully.
WATER OUTAGE CAN BE:
1) Local – ring Thames Water 0845 9200 800, or try their LIVE MAP.
2) Block-based – ask MR’s helpline to check 0203 837 7007.
3) Flat-based – call a plumber.
Photocredits
From top: police patrol: © POA (Phot) Terry Seward/MOD, OGL v1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26911879; broken glass: Oliver H [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]; flame: Sebastian Ritter (Rise0011) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)]; gasmen © National Grid; LED night-light © Thomas Tangelder from Pixabay; candles © Myriam Zilles from Pixabay; water drop ©Luis nunes alberto [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]; tap: Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay; remainder: © 2018, 2019 bcw/private collection. All rights reserved.