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RUN YELL TELL
Safe Choices, Safe Children
By Diana Jones
Teaching Children About "911" and "0"
By the age of 3 or 4, most children are ready to become familiarized with the emergency numbers of 911 and "0" for operator. This education process should include such things as: when to place a call to one of these numbers; what the child should say and do once the call is placed; and how to actually find and dial the numbers on the phone. It is helpful to unplug a real phone and actually practice dialing and role-playing an emergency call with a child.
A child needs to be clear that if they are lost, or scared, when they are away from home, calling home may not be the best thing to do. Here are some important points to include in the discussion:
- There is always someone to answer the phone at 911 or "0" while there may not always be someone home at your house when you call.
- These calls are free, and you may not always have money on you.
- When 911 sends someone to help, they are probably very nearby and can get there quickly.
- If a child is lost and cannot tell someone where they are, 911 can trace the call.
- If a child has left their area code and didn't realize it, they might not reach home, but 911 and "0" work within any area code.
Here are five essential questions that parents should approach:
- What is an emergency?
Any situation that may require immediate attention. Some obvious emergencies are fires, car accidents, and injuries. There are other emergency situations that may not be so apparent, but nonetheless require the same type of attention. An emergency can also be when someone feels endangered or threatened by another person
