UK's 25m households to get terror attack booklets

All 25 million households in the UK will receive a booklet detailing practical advice on how to prepare for a range of emergencies, it has emerged today.

The new booklet, 'Preparing for Emergencies - what you need to know', gives guidance to the public on situations like major accidents and terrorist attacks. It will be delivered to every household in the UK throughout August.

It includes advice on:

• what to do in an emergency
• coping with specific emergencies
• basic first aid
• how to prepare for an emergency
• and how to help prevent a terrorist attack

It also gives examples of the steps that have been taken by Government and the 'blue light' services to protect the UK.

A wide range of experts including the emergency services, MI5, the Chief Medical Officer and the Emergency Planning Society worked on the 22-page booklet. It was developed following extensive research into what sort of advice the public would find useful.

Home Secretary David Blunkett called public safety and security the "number one" concern for government.

"The practical advice in this booklet will allow people to make sensible preparations that will help them in a range of emergencies, such as fires, as well as terrorist incidents," he said.

Mr Blunkett said that the move was not in response to any specific or heightened threat to the UK, but from an increasing wish from the public to have information made easily available.

"Public vigilance and co-operation can make a vital contribution and people should remain alert but not alarmed. Following the advice in this booklet will ensure we are better able to cope with any emergency."

An awareness-raising campaign begins this evening with the first screening of a television advertisement at 7.45pm on ITV.

(gmcg)