Emergency Services Day in the UK Date in the current year: September 9, 2024

Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that address different emergencies to ensure public safety and health. In most countries, there are three primary emergency services that people can contact and summon directly: the police (or a similar law enforcement agency), a fire department, and emergency medical services (EMS). In addition, there is a number of specialized emergency services that address certain types of emergencies.

In many countries, there is a single emergency telephone number that people can use to contact their local emergency services. The best known emergency services numbers probably are 911 and 112, but the oldest one is 999. It is used in the United Kingdom and many of its former colonies. The number prompted the choice of the date for Emergency Services Day: it is observed on September 9 (the 9th day of the 9th month) beginning at 9 a.m.

Emergency Services Day is part of the National Services Memorial, a registered charity in England, Wales and Scotland. The inaugural event was held on September 9, 2018 in Manchester, England. Every year, the main Emergency Services Day event is held in another part of the United Kingdom, moving from England to Scotland, then to Northern Ireland and Wales.

Emergency Services Day promotes volunteering across the emergency services, educates the public on essential life saving skills, promotes the responsible use of the emergency services, and gives emergency services charities an opportunity to generate support and raise funds. In addition to attending the main event and smaller events held across the United Kingdom, people can get involved by participating in a social media campaign to spread information about the day and maximize exposure.