How to Teach a Child to Call 911

There are many stories of children calling 911 and saving the lives of parents or friends. Teach your child to dial 911 in the event of an emergency.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Emergency Telephone Numbers
• Cordless Phones With Answering Machines

1. Explain to your child that 911 should be called only in the case of an emergency. Tell the child what "emergency" means. Since every minute counts in an emergency, encourage them to call 911 immediately if they suspect a problem.

2. Show your child where the telephone is located and point out the numbers 911.

3. Unplug your phone and show the child how to dial 911. Then ask him or her to demonstrate dialing 911 in the event of an emergency. Remember to plug in your phone after you are done.

4. Keep your phone in a place where your child can access it easily.

Tips & Warnings

• Tell your child a story about another child calling 911 and saving a life. Encourage them to call 911 if they suspect a problem since in an emergency every moment counts.
• Make up a safety song about calling 911.
• Place a sticker or label reading "Call 911 in an emergency" near the telephone.

on 11/22/2005 Teach your child thier address. Most children calling 911 will be doing so from their own home. Not all emergency centers are equipped to automatically determine the address of the emergency, this will ensure the dispatcher knows where to send help!

on 11/22/2005 I see too many people that wait too long to call 911. This makes my job more challenging. Call as soon as the pain starts, not 10 hours later.