Find out about local alerts and warnings by contacting your local emergency management or visiting their website.

EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN

  • EXAMPLES

    PRACTICE YOUR PLAN

    to address emergency scenarios and give your child confidence

  • ALWAYS

    TEACH YOUR CHILD

    that if ever in doubt, always make the call

  • CONTACT

    YOUR CHILD

    should have your street address and phone number memorized

  • EXPLAIN

    THE EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS

    may give first-aid instructions

HOW AND WHEN TO CALL 9-1-1


Teaching your child how to use 9-1-1 in an emergency could be one of the simplest and most important lessons you’ll ever share. Learning what an emergency is, is just as important as learning what is not an emergency. Still, teach your child that if ever in doubt, and there’s no adult around, always make the call. It’s much better to be safe than sorry.

SAFETY TIPS

WHEN EDUCATING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9-1-1

  • EXPLAIN

    NO
    JOKE

    Educate your child on the difference between calling 9-1-1 and 9/11 (September 11, 2001). Calling 9-1-1- as a joke is a crime in many places.

  • ADDRESS

    BE
    CLEAR

    Visible house numbers are important so that police, fire, or ambulance workers can easily locate your address

  • DISCUSS

    MEDICAL
    CONDITIONS

    Parents should discuss with their children emergencies that may occur when family members have medical conditions or are elderly

  • SAFETY

    ACCESSIBLE
    KITS

    First-aid kits should be kept handy. Make sure your child and babysitters know where to find it.

OPERATOR QUESTIONS

Explain to your child that it’s OK to be frightened in an emergency. Remind them it is important to stay calm, speak slowly and give as much detail to the operator as possible.

If your child is old enough to understand, also explain that the emergency dispatcher may give first-aid instructions before emergency workers arrive at the scene. Make it clear that your child should not hang up until the person on the other end says it’s OK.


  1. Where are you calling from? (Where do you live?)
  2. What type of emergency is this?
  3. WHO NEEDS HELP?
  4. IS THE PERSON AWAKE AND BREATHING?

KIDS

Try our Children’s activity Workbook

19-NCTCOG-0013 Activity Book Single Pages

Take the Quiz

  • Question 1

    When calling 9-1-1, it is important to teach your children to stay calm, speak slowly and give as much detail to the operator as possible.

    Correct!

    Lack of details and calmness can kill

    Incorrect

    Lack of details and calmness can kill

  • Your Results

    0 Correct, 0 Wrong

/// Find out about local alerts and warnings by contacting your local emergency management or visiting their website. ///