What to do in an emergency
Can you smell gas? Feeling ill – Headaches? Nausea? Dizziness?
Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause:
Gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning
Gas Emergency Contacts
If you smell gas then call the free 24-hour National Gas Emergency Helpline:
| Country | Natural Gas (NG) | Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) | Towns Gas/Mains Gas** |
|---|---|---|---|
| England, Wales and Scotland | 0800 111 999 | Contact number on bulk storage vessel or meter* | N/A |
| Northern Ireland | 0800 002 001 | Contact number on bulk storage vessel or meter* | N/A |
| Isle of Man | 0808 1624 444 | 0808 1624 444 | 0808 1624 444 |
| Guernsey | N/A | 01481 749000 | 01481 749000 |
| Jersey | N/A | 01534 755555 | 01534 755555 |
*This applies for bulk and metered supplies – for cylinder supplies please see local telephone directory for contact details. On caravan sites and boats, the site owner and/or boat operator may also have gas safety responsibilities.
**Guernsey and Jersey use a manufactured LPG/air mixture commonly known as ‘mains gas’, supplied to customers from an underground main system. The Isle of Man has a similar system known as ‘towns gas’, however many of the LPG/air(towns-gas) installations on this system are currently being converted to burn natural gas.
In a gas emergency you need to act quickly and take the following steps:
- Contact the relevant National Gas Emergency number above.
- Get to fresh air immediately - open all doors and windows to ventilate the area.
- Turn off the gas supply if it is safe to do so at the emergency control valve at the meter unless the meter is located in a basement/cellar or at the LPG bulk tank or storage vessels.
- Do not turn the gas supply on again until it has been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Do not operate electrical switches (this includes turning switches on or off). Operating electrical equipment can ignite escaping gas.
- Extinguish all naked flames and do not smoke.
- If you are feeling unwell visit your GP or hospital immediately and inform them that you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide.
- If the attending emergency operative identifies any concern with any gas appliances, follow the advice given concerning use of the equipment and where advised contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to fix the appliance and check for safety.
