Abstract: Emergency radio telephone apparatus includes a housing, a radio transceiver for receiving and transmitting modulated radio signals, an actuator connected to the housing for actuating the transceiver and initiating the process of making connection to a predetermined emergency phone number. The actuator may alternately be of modular construct, not permanently connected to the housing allowing easy replacement of the emergency call actuator with a modular construction telephone keypad and display, thereby converting the emergency-only radio telephone into a full-functioned radio telephone. A cover can be attached to the transceiver allowing access only to the emergency call actuator thereby restricting calls to only the emergency number. Cover, modular keypad, modular actuator, or transceiver can have a lock to prevent removal of modular components.