Emergency Security Plan Guide¶

Guide to creating a home emergency security plan for UK households covering fire evacuation, burglary response, emergency contacts, grab bags, and coordination with neighbours.

Creating Your Household Emergency Plan¶

Every UK household should have a documented emergency plan. The plan covers three scenarios: burglary in progress, fire, and medical emergency. For burglary in progress: exit immediately if safe, call 999 from a neighbour's house, do not confront intruders. For fire: the UK Fire and Rescue Service recommends testing smoke alarms weekly, having a pre-planned escape route, keeping doors closed at night, and meeting at a designated external point. Store emergency numbers in your phone and posted near the main phone point. Numbers to include: 999 for police/fire/ambulance, local police non-emergency 101, NHS 111, gas emergency 0800 111 999, electricity emergency 105, and your insurance company claims line. Ensure all household members including children know the plan.

The Emergency Grab Bag¶

Prepare a grab bag stored near the exit point containing essential items. For fire: torch and spare batteries, battery-powered radio, mobile phone charger pack, emergency cash 100-200, photocopies of passports and insurance documents in a waterproof wallet, spare house and car keys, essential medication with a 7-day supply, list of emergency contacts, children's essential items nappies, formula, comfort toy, warm clothing and blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. Keep the grab bag in a consistent location known to all household members. Check and refresh contents every 6 months. Review the family emergency plan annually, especially when moving to a new home or when household members change.

Specifications and Comparison¶

Item	Scenario	Shelf Life	Cost
Torch with batteries	All emergencies	3 years battery	15-30
First aid kit	Medical	Check annually	10-25
Emergency cash 200	Burglary/evacuation	Indefinite	200 face value
Document copies	Fire/burglary	1 year then update	5 photocopying
Phone power bank	All emergencies	6 months charge	20-40

FAQ¶

What should I do if I hear a burglar at night?: Stay in your bedroom, lock the door, call 999, and make noise to suggest you are awake and alert. Do not confront the intruder. The police will attend and your life is more important than property.
How often should I test my emergency plan?: Test smoke alarms weekly. Review the full emergency plan annually. Replace grab bag batteries and refresh contents every 6 months.
Should I share my emergency plan with neighbours?: Yes. Share your keyholder contact with a trusted neighbour. Include emergency contact details for your insurance company. Coordinate with neighbours to watch each other's properties. For more information see our Multi-Occupancy Security Guide.

Last updated: 2026-05-31.

External Resources¶

For further information consult authority guidelines at the British Standards Institution (BSI).