Teaching kids how to use 911

From time to time a news story emerges about a toddler dialing 911 and summoning help for an adult in distress. Aside from the wonder most of us feel at the presence of mind these little people display, it brings up an interesting point about teaching children about the emergency system in general, and when it’s appropriate for them to call for help.

In this article, the author suggests familiarizing younger children with who and what emergency workers are in the community – most kids know about firefighters and policemen, but are left in the dark about paramedics, nurses and other health care providers. Introducing them to these professions might help give children a clear idea of who they can trust to help them when the time comes. Role playing and asking questions also helps  – ‘what would you do if the house were on fire?” or “who would you call if mommy fell and couldn’t move?” It helps kids identify what constitutes an emergency.

The author also advocates reminding kids that calling 911 isn’t a joke, and suggests helping them understand that if they tie up 911 with a prank call, it prevents someone else from getting the help they need.

Other suggestions include:

• Making sure kids know their address and apartment number in case there is no enhanced 911 in their area.

• Letting them know its okay to be scared in a emergency, but that they trust the 911 operator

• In places where the emergency number is 911,Teaching them to memorize 9-1-1, not nine-eleven so they don’t spend time looking for the 11 button on the phone – (we have to think like children again to see this point)

• Walking them through some of the questions an operator will ask, and advise them not to hang up until the operator says it’s okay

Now if only we could get certain adults to start using 911 properly as well…