Smoke or gas smell: get safe first
With smoke or possible gas, follow fire, utility and local authority guidance first: move to safety as directed and call from a safe place before using chat or apps. Being conscious after a fall does not establish whether standing is safe or what assistance is needed. Official health guidance comes first: assess the situation calmly, avoid movement that could make it worse, and call emergency services when required. A phone, wearable or app is only a route to request help and depends on reach, connection, battery and human response.
Follow official health guidance first
NHS guidance advises staying calm, checking for pain or injury, and getting up only if able, slowly and with stable support. If getting up is not possible, use a reachable phone or personal alarm to obtain help. For severe pain, visible injury or danger, follow local emergency operators.
If movement may make matters worse, stay still
Do not improvise exercises or transfers. Stop when movement increases pain, instability or risk and wait for professional direction. This guide cannot assess an injury remotely: describe what happened and answer the questions from emergency services or an appropriate health professional.
Use a reachable device to state essential facts
If a phone or wearable can be used, state your name, location, that a fall occurred, that you are conscious and the concrete difficulty, without diagnosing yourself. A short message might say “I fell, I am conscious, I am not trying to stand, call me now”; share location only when chosen and useful.
Primary and backup contacts need a defined task
The person chooses whom to involve. The primary contact knows the expected signal, how to acknowledge ownership and when to call; the backup takes over if the primary has not confirmed within the agreed threshold. Also define when local responders should be called: sending or reading a message does not prove help is moving.
Phones, wearables and apps have different limits
A phone supports calls, SMS and apps, but it must be close enough and operable. An app can organise a signal to trusted contacts, yet depends on the handset, connection and notifications. A wearable may stay on the body, while battery, pairing, coverage and controls vary. Use the matrix to assemble a plan rather than declare a winner.
| Option | Useful feature | Limit to check | Place in the plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone call | Direct voice and questions | Device must be reachable and have service | Primary route or fallback |
| SMS | May use cellular service without data | Delivery and reading are not assured | Agreed alternative |
| Safety app | Structured signal to chosen contacts | Needs phone, connection and notifications | Starts the family protocol |
| Wearable | May remain on the body | Battery, pairing and coverage vary | Additional access route |
| Contact card | Needs no battery | Someone must be able to read and use it | Reminder and aid for others |
Prepare the route before it is needed
Run an announced rehearsal without simulating injury: reach the device from a safe position, send the message, receive acknowledgement and hand over to backup. Check connection, battery and the second channel; never call public responders merely to test.
Concrete example: For “Smoke or gas smell: get safe first”, Before the session, each person brings current numbers, time constraints and accessibility needs. Name a facilitator and pause the clock when an issue needs professional verification. Keep the choice proportionate to purpose and the person’s preferences; if this route does not fit, use the second channel or appropriate local service without inferring delivery, understanding, or intervention.
Relevant counterexample: For “Smoke or gas smell: get safe first”, In the opening minutes choose two realistic scenarios and a meeting place. Avoid an endless catalogue: record where to go, who changes the decision and how absent people are updated.
Keep the choice proportionate to purpose and the person’s preferences; if this route does not fit, use the second channel or appropriate local service without inferring delivery, understanding, or intervention.
- Are NHS or local service instructions known?
- Is the device reachable without risky movement?
- Does the message state event, place and need without diagnosis?
- Have primary and backup accepted roles and a threshold?
- Were call, SMS, app or wearable routes tested?
- Is the point for calling emergency services clear?
If pain, visible injury or danger makes movement uncertain, do not improvise: call local services and follow the operator’s directions.
Frequently asked questions
Does being conscious mean it is safe to stand?
No. Consciousness does not establish severity or safe movement. Follow official health guidance and seek help when uncertain.
Can an app automatically know that I fell?
My Safe Circle cannot. Its request is initiated by the person; features on other devices vary by model and should not be treated as complete detection.
What should the message contain?
State the event, known location, conscious state and requested action. Avoid a diagnosis and ask for explicit acknowledgement.
Sources consulted
Technical and safety information was checked against the following official sources.
- Official source: Ready.gov — home fires
- Official source: HSE — gas safety
- Official source: European Commission — 112
- Official source: My Safe Circle — features and limits
Editorial disclosure: this guide is published by the My Safe Circle team and uses official public sources checked on 5 September 2026. It offers general organisational criteria, not a clinical assessment, technical prescription or personal medical recommendation.
PREPARE THE FOLLOW-UP
A reachable device needs an agreed human plan.
Choose the position, primary contact, backup and rehearsal with the person.
Explore My Safe CircleMy Safe Circle supports communication with trusted contacts. It is not an emergency service or medical device, does not prevent or automatically detect falls, and cannot guarantee connectivity, delivery, reading, response or action. For immediate danger call local emergency services; 112 is free throughout the EU.