A postcode can cover a large area especially when rural and out of the main town and may not accurately show your home location.

Ambulances, Fire & Rescue Services and the Police use GPS and Ordinance Survey Mapping to quickly and accurately locate an exact address in the event of an emergency. 

If you live outside of the town, even if it is just a mile, then make sure you know your exact map or grid reference. (See example shown in picture).

Keep this on a sticker on all your home phones and also as an entry in your mobile phone. Giving this exact location information will reduce any delay's finding your address and may save a life!

You can use Google Earth or a similar online mapping service, or even the GPS on some mobile phones to pinpoint your home and obtain the exact map reference for your property. Or click the button below to access the UK Grid Reference Finder.

Without understanding mapreading the use of grid references is difficult.

Now there is a new way, and an Apps on your phone does it all for you.

What3Words has created a grid map across the world, each square being 3m x 3m and assigned a unique combination of 3 words. This makes it far easier to pinpoint a precise nine metre square in open land or woodland enabling a fast and accurate response from the emergency services.

Watch the videos below, then load the application on all your personal telephone and tablet devices.

Always be aware of what information your child stores on their mobile.  Never let them keep personal or banking details on their handsets.

Phone hacking is far too easy,. but It's not just the Hacker's who are able to listen in or access your data, watch the video to know more.

There is nothing more frustrating to Ambulance personnel than to hear the words 'Behind Closed Doors'. To arrive at a scene and know there is a patient inside that needs urgent assistance only with no way in.

Unlike the Police and Fire Brigade, Ambuance staff do not have the legal powers to enter using force, precious time is often wasted in tracking down keyholders or calling for Police assistance, sometimes resulting in loss of life!

If you have a elderly or infirm relative who lives alone, fit a secure key safe outside, then even if they can not get to the door they can verbally inform ambulance staff, doctors, nurses or visiting professionals the code number so they can access a key.

Care companies will charge a small fortune to provide and fit one of these, even though you can buy them like the shown example from Aldi for under ten pounds. They are easy to fit if you have a drill.

We have all become so used to Heath & Safety whilst at work, yet we unfortunately leave all thoughts of it behind when we leave to go home.

We also leave behind a lot of our sensibility; reasoning and attention, we have become complacent that our home is our 'Safe Place' and place ourselves and our families at high risk..

We have to think hard about what we use; how we use it; where we store it, we also have to challenge our attitudes to the risks our homes may offer.

Every room in the house has it's hidden dangers, and sometimes it is us that is the danger and we do things the wrong way. We originally learned Safety from our parents, taking it for granted that they were doing it right, but things change and what may have been acceptable many years ago may not be acceptable or safe today.

This inexpensive ebook is available to read on all e-reader devices, phones or computers. It explains the problems with our houses and the way we use them, taking each room in turn it lists dangers and bad practices, has many useful 'Tips' and has many ideas tohelp you keep your family safe without it costing you a fortune. It also has simple family exercises you can do together, not just fun to do but teaching all the family what to do if the worst ever happens.

This article maybe written for the US, dealing with Tornado's, Hurricane's and the varied other disasters they encounter, but much still applies to those that live in the UK, especially those who live in rural areas in times of heavy snow fall, flooding, or fires.

With the climatic changes in weather, the risks of damage from natural causes such as wind, rain, flooding, and fire is increasing not just in countries such as the US, but right across the world.  Lessons learned in the construction industries can not only create awareness, but also make us consider how such natural disasters can affect us at home.