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Mountain Emergency Card
Get the right information ready before you set off — your location, your group and your details — so that if the worst happens you can reach Mountain Rescue fast and clearly.
Jump straight to any free Lake District tool.
1. Your location
Get your position from your phone's GPS — it converts to an OS grid reference right here on your device. You can also type a grid reference, what3words or a description in by hand.
Tip: tap “Use GPS reading” to copy the grid reference above into this box, then add the nearest landmark.
2. Your card details
Fill these in once and save them on this phone. They stay on your device — nothing is sent to us. Fill in before you head out, while you still have signal and a charged battery.
3. Build your message
Describe what's happened and we'll assemble the standard Mountain Rescue message from your card and location. Read it out on a 999 call, or send it as a 999 text (you must register first — see below).
Texting 999 only works if you register first — and it's free. Before you go out, text the word register to 999 and follow the reply. A text needs far less signal than a call and keeps trying to send, so it's a vital backup in the fells. In an emergency, never assume your text has arrived until the emergency services reply to you.
More at Mountain Rescue England & Wales and Relay UK (the 999 text service).
Disclaimer
This emergency card is provided free of charge for general guidance only, on an "as is" basis, as a preparation aid to help you gather and pass on the right information quickly. It is not a substitute for proper hill skills, navigation or training, and it is not a substitute for dialling 999 directly. In a real emergency, call 999 or 112 first and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
The location and OS grid reference are produced by the GPS receiver in your own device and worked out by your browser. These can be inaccurate, delayed or unavailable, and may be affected by terrain, weather, tree cover, nearby metal or electronics, low battery or loss of signal — particularly in remote or mountainous areas such as the Lake District. Any value shown may be wrong, sometimes by tens of metres, so always cross-check it against your map. Sending a message still depends on having enough signal, and the 999 text service only works if you have registered your phone in advance — never assume a text has been received until the emergency services reply to you.
You should always carry an appropriate map and compass, suitable equipment and supplies, tell someone your plans, and have the navigation skills and experience needed before setting out. Use of this tool is entirely at your own risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, TheLakeDistrict.com accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, injury, damage, delay, accident or inconvenience arising directly or indirectly from use of this tool or reliance on the information it provides. Nothing in this disclaimer excludes or limits any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
Getting your location right
A six-figure OS grid reference plus a named feature is the language UK rescue teams understand best. This card reads your phone's satellite position and converts it on the spot, so it works even with no phone signal once the page has loaded. If GPS is struggling, you can read your latitude and longitude to the operator instead, or describe the nearest landmark. Pair this with the OS Grid Reference Converter to double-check a reading, the Walking Compass for your live position, and the Route Card Builder so someone always knows your plan.
Is this a substitute for calling 999?
No. It only helps you gather and pass on the right details quickly. In a real emergency, dial 999 or 112 first, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue, and stay where you are until help arrives.
Do I have to register to text 999?
Yes. The 999 text (emergencySMS) service only works if you've registered your phone in advance — text the word register to 999 and follow the reply. It's free and takes about two minutes. A voice call is always best where you have signal; a text is a backup when you don't.
Does it work without a signal?
The location reading and grid reference use your phone's built-in GPS and are worked out on your device, so they keep working with no reception once the page has loaded. Sending a message still needs enough signal for a call or text — load this page and save your card before you set off.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your name, group, medical notes and contacts are stored only on your own device, in your browser. Nothing you enter reaches our servers, and your location is never sent to us.
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