Teaching Children The Essentials of 911

(Updated from its original printing in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of the Journal of Emergency Dispatch)

A 2021 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 91% of elementary school-age children aren’t prepared to take the two steps necessary to reliably call 911:¹ 

   1. Recognize when a situation is an emergency.

   2. Dial 911 for lifesaving help and describe the problem.

This list is intended to be a resource to educate and prepare children.

Introduce children to 911 

·   Give children a background on what an emergency is, how to get help, and what that help looks like. Review vocabulary words like “dispatchers,” “paramedics,” “ambulance,” etc.

·   Encourage children not to be afraid of calling 911 for a real emergency. Use examples of what would warrant a necessary call and what would not.

·   Discuss any scenarios that have a higher likelihood of occurring in the home (e.g., a problem with an elderly relative or any family members with known health concerns).

Prepare children to call 

·   Teach children their address and phone number. Even toddlers can learn this information through rhymes, songs, and repetition. Use toy instruments or a familiar tune like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and engage their body with movement to aid with memorization.

·   Teach children to describe their surroundings, notice landmarks, and answer questions if they don’t know the address. The child may be able to walk outside and see the house number or look for a piece of mail with the address written on it.

·   Smartphones are used in 80% of 911 calls, but they are not always accessible for children.^² Demonstrate how to unlock your cellphone (if necessary) and how to dial 911 or locate the emergency call button. Practice making a call to a relative or friend while listening and speaking clearly. Remind children that the person cannot hear them nodding or shaking their head.

·   Encourage children to keep talking or put the phone down with the line open while completing a task. Remind them to hang up only when the emergency dispatcher says it is OK.

·   Teach children what to do next if they can’t get through to 911, like running to a neighbor’s house or calling another relative. In certain circumstances, like a house fire, teach children to go to safety before calling 911.

Locate necessary items in a centralized location 

·   As landlines are less common now, be sure to keep your smartphone in a place where kids can typically find it.

·   Post critical information in a message center, near a calendar, or on the fridge in your home. Keep an updated record of your address, phone number, contact numbers, names, allergies, and blood types to provide to both emergency dispatchers and responders.

Discuss the purpose of 911 to prevent misuse 

·   Never let children play with a phone that still has a connected battery. Comm. centers receive calls to 911 even when a phone’s service has been disconnected.

·   If you recognize that a child may have accidentally called 911, confirm with the emergency dispatcher that the call was made in error and that no response is needed. Approach the issue with education (not punishment) so children aren’t afraid to use 911 in an emergency.

·   To prevent intentional misuse, help children understand how unnecessary calls can create delays for sending help to someone in need.

Sources 

1. Huber JF, Davis S, Phan J, Jegathesan T, Campbell DM, Chau R, Walsh CM. “Children’s Ability to Call 911 in an Emergency: A Simulation Study.” Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics Publications. 2021; April. publications.aap.org/pediatrics/ article/147/4/e2020010520/180765/Children-sAbility-to-Call-911-in-an-Emergency-A (accessed Dec. 3, 2024).

2. See note 1.

*See related Universal CDE “Connecting with Child Callers.”