Emergency - vocabulary: What to say when things go wrong?

Have you ever been stuck in an emergency situation and didn’t know what to say? This lesson teaches you basic phrases to help you communicate clearly and get assistance when things go wrong.

1. Emergency services and personnel

2. Emergency equipment

When you face an emergency, always follow standard precautions and emergency procedures, such as staying calm, assessing the situation, calling for help, and ensuring your safety before assisting others.

3. Basic emergency phrases

• Help!
• Call the police!
• I need help right now!
• Call an ambulance!
• Does anyone know CPR?
• Is everyone okay?
• Watch out!
• Call for help!
• Can someone contact the authorities?
• We need a doctor immediately!
• Help is on the way—stay calm!

4. Medical emergency phrases

For accidents or health crises:

• I can’t breathe!
• She’s unconscious!
• Where’s the nearest hospital?
• I feel dizzy!
• I think I broke my leg!
• He’s bleeding badly!
• I need a doctor!
• Is there a first aid kit?
• Is there a pharmacy nearby?
• My head hurts!

5. Car accident vocabulary

If you’re in a road emergency:

• My car broke down!
• We’ve crashed!
• Is anyone hurt?
• My brakes aren’t working!
• I’ve run out of gas!
• Can someone call a tow truck?
• I'd like to report an accident!
• My car is on fire!

6. Natural disaster phrases

For earthquakes, floods, or storms:

• Evacuate now!
• Stay away from the windows!
• There’s a fire—get out!
• Where’s the fire extinguisher?
• Don’t go outside—it’s dangerous!
• Close all the windows and the doors!
• Hold onto something sturdy!
• Don’t use the elevators—use the stairs!
• It’s not safe to return yet!

7. Safety and crime

If you need police help, the following phrases can be useful:

• My bag was stolen!
• Call the police!
• I’ve been attacked!
• Someone just robbed me!
• I’ve been attacked!
• They stole my wallet!
• Someone broke into my car!
• There’s a fight happening outside!
• I’ve heard a gunshot on the next block!

8. Travel emergency help

For lost items or travel issues:

• I lost my passport!
• Where’s the embassy?
• I need a translator!
• I missed my flight!
• My luggage is lost!
• I can’t find my boarding pass!
• How do I report a lost item?
• Is there a police station nearby?

9. Home emergency phrases

For fires, gas leaks, electrical issues or any other problems you may encounter at home:

• Call the fire department!
• I locked myself out!
• Someone’s trying to break into my house!
• I smell gas; open the window and do not light a fire.

10. Personal safety

• Help! Someone is following me!
• I’m lost; can you help me find my way?
• I feel unsafe here!
• That person is harassing me!
• I’m being stalked—please help!
• Call the police—someone is threatening me!
• There’s a stranger at my door!
• Help! I think I’m being targeted!
• Can you walk me to my car?
• I feel like someone’s watching me!
• There’s someone loitering near my house!
• Can I wait here until it’s safe?
• Someone grabbed me—I need help!
• That person is making me uncomfortable!
• I think I’m being set up—help me!
• I need security assistance!
• Stay away from me!
• Please help me get out of here!

11. Terrorism or public threat phrases

For bomb threats, active shooter situations, or public safety alerts:

• I heard an explosion nearby!
• Take cover!
• Someone’s shouting about a bomb!
• Evacuate the area now!
• I just saw a suspicious package!
• Get down and stay quiet!
• Don’t use your phone—it might trigger something!
• There’s a hostage situation—stay back!
• Can you see any exits?
• Stay away from crowded areas!
• Someone is acting very suspiciously!
• Hide and call for help!
• There’s a bomb threat—move away!
• Is this area safe?
• I need to report suspicious behavior!
• Stay low and move quietly!
• The authorities are handling the situation—follow their instructions!

12. Animal-related emergencies

For bites, attacks, or dangerous animal encounters:

• I was bitten by a snake!
• There’s a dog attacking someone!
• Watch out!, there’ a bear is nearby!
• I got stung by a bee!
• There’s a wild animal in the house!
• I got scratched by a stray cat!
• There’s a snake in the yard!
• I think it’s a venomous bite!
• Call animal control!
• Get back! There’s a swarm of bees nearby;
• I was bitten by a stray dog.
• A wild animal just attacked my pet!
• I stepped on a jellyfish!
• I found a scorpion in my room!
• Don’t touch it; it might be dangerous!
• Someone’s been attacked by a wild boar!

13. Emergency situations

Below is a list of common English terms used to describe emergency situations. They include natural disasters, accidents, and human-made threats.

• Fire outbreak
• Car accident
• Gas leak
• Building collapse
• Active shooter
• Bomb threat
• Hostage situation
• Power outage
• Chemical spill
• Train derailment
• Plane crash
• Riot
• Stampede
• Cyberattack
• Bridge collapse
• Industrial explosion
• School lockdown
• Terrorist attack
• Flooding
• Pandemic outbreak
• Structural fire
• Maritime disaster
• Mine collapse
• Electrical fire
• Radiation leak
• Animal attack
• Drone interference
• Subway evacuation
• Crane malfunction
• Public health hazard

In urgent situations involving crime or danger, knowing what to say can save lives. Use these phrases to communicate clearly with police, report incidents, or seek immediate assistance.