Safety advice: People at risk

Control Measure Knowledge

It is likely that safety advice will need to be passed on in some form during all incidents where people are, or have the potential to be, at risk. This may include:

  • Providing safety advice to people who are indirectly involved in the incident, for example advising members of the public to close windows and doors
  • Providing safety advice to prevent more people being put at risk, for example advising members of the public to avoid the area where the incident is located
  • Advising other people who may be at risk to raise the alarm

When providing safety advice to people at risk, additional advice can be given to prevent escalation of the incident, for example to isolate power.

Safety advice will vary depending on the incident. Safety advice should only be actioned where it is safe to do so.

Where there are people at risk in the hazard area, operational personnel will prioritise the rescue of people at risk before attempts are made to save the property, contents or animals. Therefore, people unnecessarily entering the hazard area may delay operational personnel managing the incident and dealing with the hazard. People at risk should be instructed to ‘Get out and stay out’, leaving them in no doubt as to what they should do.

People at risk who have been advised to ‘Stay put’ should also be informed that if the conditions they are experiencing change, if the hazard gets worse or they become directly affected, they should redial 999. For more information about ‘Stay put’ advice refer to Hazard – Calls from or about people at risk: Fire.

Strategic Actions

Tactical Actions