Step 1.
If an emergency happens, we advise you only to use SMS/Text to contact the Emergency Services if you have no other option. An SMS/Text will take longer than a voice call to 112 or 999.
When you need to send an SMS/Text message to 112 create an SMS/Text message containing the details below:
Which?
Say which Emergency Service is needed: Ambulance, Coastguard, Fire, or An Garda Síochána.
What?
Say what the problem is.
County?
Say which county you are sending the text from.
Where?
Say where the assistance is needed. Give the name of the town and road if possible.
Plus more information like:
- House number
- Eircode
- Nearby landmarks, road junctions or main roads
For example, your SMS/Text message might read:
”ambulance. man having a heart attack. Meath. Outside Post Office in Navan’
Please be as clear as possible when saying where the help is needed. The Emergency Services will be able to send help to you quicker when they know where help is needed.
Step 2.
Now send the SMS/Text message to 112.
Step 3.
The Emergency Service will reply to you asking either for more information or telling you that help is on the way.
Do not assume that your message has been received until you get a message back from the Emergency Service, an SMS/Text ”Delivery Report” does not mean your message has been received.
It can take around 2 minutes for you to get a reply to your emergency message. If you have not received a reply within 3 minutes, then we advise you to send another message straight away.