From the article: Teach a Child to Call 911
When children call 9-1-1 there is a risk that the dispatcher may ignore the call as a child's prank. How did you explain to your child about calling 9-1-1? Share Your Tips
911 call
- I never explained to my child how to call 911, all children are smart enough to know when something happens to call 911. I mean its not brain surgery. If you have to teach your child to do that then they shouold probably go to kindergarten again.
- —Guest Rebecca Laruh
Australia
- I'm 15, and I live in Australia. I think I knew To call 911 before I knew how to call 000(Our emergency call number). Not sure why though.
- —Guest Ambermine
Mom of 2
- I told them that if something ever happened to me, i fell or they couldn't wake me up or anything bad ever happened outside or someone was trying to break into the house to call 911 immediately. About a month or two ago, i was sitting in my car in the driveway having a very hard time breathing, so bad I didn't want to go in the house until I had things under control a little bit better, I was still trying to figure out what was going oon with me. My son came out to see why Iwas sitting there and heard me gasping for air and grabbed my cellphone and called 911. He ALWAYS asks my permission prior to doing most things (he is 13) so a little older, but still asks permission for things, but not for this, he just instinctively grabbed the phone and called and talked to the operater himself. Everything turned out fine, but I taught both of my kids this when they were very very young, and reinforced it many times.
- —Guest Jeanne
911
- My oldest son was 12 and was going to start watching his brother when I was working nights. We talked about WHEN you would call 911...break-in, fire, etc. Then I called the non-emergency number and talked to them at the police station. They suggested a dry run with my son. They were wonderful!! We did call the non-emergency number and used a pre-arranged emergency (fire) and he answered all their questions like it was real. It made me feel great about the whole situation. I highly recommend doing that. Most emergency personnel will be more than happy to help. They want kids to know how to do it to make their life easier in a real emergency.
- —Janette2sons
Children Calling 911
- I am a 15 year old and my parents had problems so I took care of my siblings. I taught them only to call 911 when there is a real emergency and never call as a prank, because the police can tell who called.
- —Guest jennifer3
Children Calling 911
- I am a child! I did not have to learn! I simply knew!
- —Guest JMY
Granny Fell Down
- I told my 5 year old grandson that if he ever sees me laying on the floor and i don’t get up or can’t answer him, to not wait, just pick up the telephone and call 911 and tell them what you see and you need help. I said, they will ask you your address but if you forget it, don’t worry, just stay on the telephone because they are tracking the open telephone line and will find you without using your voice or words, and you will hear the ambulance and police coming because any child cannot be left alone without an adult present that is okay. And you can look out the window and make sure it’s them and then unlock the door if it’s locked. They will then take over and help. They know what to do.
- —Guest xxbigkisses
You Never Know...
- It is good that you explain to your child about calling 9-1-1 because you never know when they may need to call for help.
- —Guest roberto
Teach it Correctly
- If you feel threatened in anyway dial 9-1-1. The operator will determine level of emergency. Better to be safe than sorry. But don't call 9-1-1 just to be testing it. It is 9-1-1 not 9 eleven when talking to kids. Because kids will look for the eleven
- —Guest Leroy McFadden
Play Teach
- Well the way I got my child to know how to ring 911 if there was any need was to to play doctor with him and now he knows how to get help. Bless him, hopefully he will never have to.
- —Guest ems28
