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. When giving a child examples you should
include such things as a robber or a bully, as well as
a person who might want to take or molest a child.
- When should I call 911 or "0"?
A child should be instructed to call 911 or "0"
whenever there is an emergency or if they feel
scared, threatened or confused by someone's actions
and there is nobody with them from whom they could
seek immediate assistance.
Which is better 911 or "0"?
Calling 911 is one step quicker to reaching help
than dialing "0". However, children cannot always
remember 911, so it is important to teach them
both. Some areas do not have 911. If you are not
sure, it is important to call your local police
station and ask. Often in areas that do not have 911,
calls placed to that number will still be routed to
the local police.
Will I get in trouble if I call 911 and it turns
out not to be an emergency?
Explain to children that they will never get in
trouble for calling 911, even if everything ends up to
be OK. It is always better to trust your instincts
and reach out for help even when you are not sure that
something is wrong. People only get in trouble for
calling 911, when they do it to play a joke. Often
in situations involving inappropriate attention from a
grown-up, children are unsure about what is going on.
They need to be encouraged to seek help not just when
they are certain that there is a problem, but to
assist them in deciphering instances when they are
uncertain. Molesters go to great lengths to confuse
children and veil their intentions. Children need to
feel comfortable seeking help interpreting situations
in which their senses tell them something is not
right.
What do I say when I place an emergency
call?
A child needs to understand that when they place the
call, they must immediately say, "I have an
emergency," "I need help," or anything else that lets
the person on the other end of the phone know it is an
emergency and assistance is needed. Children need to
be prepared that they will be asked questions, and
they must do their best to answer them. If the child
is too scared and cannot talk, they need to know to
stay on the line and someone will tell them what to do
and trace the call. Most importantly, a child
should learn never to hang-up until the person on the
other end says that it is OK. Remember 911 and "0"
are always free.
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The ABCs of Safety
- Alert -- Walk with your head held high and
pay attention to what is going on around you.
- Beware -- Listen to and trust your
instincts at all times.
- Cautious -- Take no chances. If you think
something may be wrong, it probably is. If it isn't,
it does not matter and no harm is done.
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About the author: Diana Jones is the founder of RUN*YELL*TELL,
LTD., and an expert for iParenting.com.
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