Teaching children about 911:
The world today is technology driven. Landlines have largely become obsolete, most parents and children have cell phones. It is imperative to teach children how to dial 911 as they too have the ability to save a life.
Tips to get your child ready to call 911:
- Teach your child his/her address and the phone number from which they are calling from. If you own a TRAC phone, the phone number will not display when calling 911. Location is the most important piece of information needed by 911.
- Make sure your child knows his/her first and last name. It is also extremely helpful if a child knows how to spell their name.
- Make sure your child knows that you have a name other than “Mom” and “Dad”. Teach him/her your first and last name.
- Make sure that your child knows where you are at all times. It’s helpful if he/she knows the name of your workplace in case police need to find you during working hours.
- If you would like SERESA to come to your school for 911 education, please contact us.
- Did you know that many old deactivated cell phones are still capable of calling 911 even though there is no current plan? Teach your child that if he/she accidently dials 911, to stay on the line and tell the operator that it was a mistake.
- If your phone has a passcode on it, make sure that your child knows what it is, or that 911 can be called without entering the passcode.
- It is never too early to teach children to know their surroundings. For younger children, while you are in the car, ask them to tell you what they see out the window. For older children, practice reading street signs and teach them their directions (north, south, east, and west).
