An emergency service control centre 3 includes a telephone receiver 31 for receiving calls to the emergency services. Upon receipt of such a call, a signal emitting device 32 sends an activation signal to a control means 2 which activates a signalling device 1 in the vicinity (eg in the home) of the emergency caller. The location signalling device may comprise a flashing light on the outside of a building or may comprise radio beacon which may be located by an emergency services vehicle (90, fig.5). Once the emergency has been attended to, the control centre may send a deactivation signal to the control means in order to switch off the location signalling device. Activation and deactivation of the signalling device may be performed via the PSTN 42 whilst the emergency caller is in conversation with the control centre staff or may be performed via a radio transmission from the control centre. Alternatively, the signal emitting device 32 could send a standby signal to the control means 2 and the signalling device could subsequently be wirelessly activated via a radio transmitter in a nearby emergency services vehicle. Helps emergency service personnel to arrive quickly at a location where their assistance is required.
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