We all hope that we will never have to make a 999 call, but if you do, it’s important that you know what to expect.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have issued advice on what to expect should the worst happen and you have to make the call.

When the call goes through, you will first speak to an operator who will ask you what service you require: police, ambulance, fire service or coast guard.

While many people assume that the fire service just deals with flames, this is not strictly true.

You should call the fire service if there’s any kind of smoke, a road traffic collision, people who are stuck or trapped, chemical incidents, and incidents involving water or fire.

Callers who are in a dangerous situation and are unable to say anything in response will automatically get put through to the police.

Once you get through to your chosen service, you will then be asked the address of where the incident is taking place.

If you don’t have a postcode or address, what3words app is a great way to indicate your location to service call handlers, so it’s good to have it downloaded just in case.

When you go into the what3words app, it will show a map with a moveable icon of a person and you can mark where the incident is.

The app will then produce three words which identify a three-by-three-meter square of the location you have pinned, and you can tell those three words to the call handler.

Always remember that call handlers are not asking where you are, but where the incident is happening. This may not be the same as your current location if you have fled the scene.

You will then be asked to describe what is happening. Call handlers may ask questions such as how many people are involved and where is the best access to the location.

Although call handlers understand that you may be panicking, it is always best to speak slowly, particularly when describing difficult road names.

Call handlers will repeat back the address to you before sending out any emergency vehicles, to check that they have heard correctly.

Only after the emergency vehicle has been dispatched should you give any additional but non-essential details that could be passed to the emergency crew en route.

Depending on the nature of the incident, you may also be asked to stand outside of the house or hang something colourful in your window so that emergency responders can easily spot the location of the incident.