Teaching a child to use 9-1-1

Parents can use the following safety tips to teach their children the proper way to use 9-1-1 to report emergencies:

• Never say "nine eleven." There is no eleven on a telephone keypad or dial. Always say "nine-one-one."
  
• Always call from a safe place. If there is a fire in the house, get out first and then call.
  
• Post your address near the phone. Be ready to give your name, address and telephone number.
• Tell the person who answers what is wrong. Follow their instructions and don't hang up unless they tell you to.
  
• Never call 9-1-1 as a prank or joke. You can get into trouble and keep someone who really needs help from getting it on time.
  
• 9-1-1 is not for animal emergencies.
• Call 9-1-1 if you see a fire, accident, when someone is very sick or hurt, if you see a crime.
  
• Call 9-1-1 if you think you have an emergency and explain the situation to the dispatcher.
  
• If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, don't hang up. Explain the mistake to the dispatcher and say there is not emergency.
• Tell your child that it is ok to call 9-1-1 if they are lost, and that they can use a payphone and that they don't need money to call 9-1-1.

Teaching you children about 911

The three-digit telephone number "9-1-1" has been designated as the "Universal Emergency Number," for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance.

Remember that you don't need any money to call 9-1-1 on any pay phone.

Stay calm and Speak clearly
Listen carefully to the Dispatchers questions and answer each question carefully.
Verbally answer all questions. Remember the Dispatcher cannot see your hand or head gestures, signs or motions.
State your emergency.
State your address - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VERIFY THE ADDRESS
STAY ON THE LINE
Do not hang up until the Dispatcher tells you it is OK to do so. They may need to ask additional questions regarding the emergency or an EMS dispatcher may give your instructions to help stabilize the patient before the ambulance gets to your location.
Follow the instructions of the Dispatcher and remain calm.
If you can, stay by the phone in case the 9-1-1 call-taker needs to call you back.

Here are some of the questions the dispatcher may ask you if you are reporting a crime in progress:
Give a brief description of what occurred.
Where exactly did the incident occur? Include building and room/area.
How long ago did the incident occur?
Did the suspect(s) have any weapons?
Which direction was the suspect headed?
Was the suspect on foot or in a vehicle?
What did the suspect(s) look like? Describe each suspect one at a time.
Gender
Race
Age
Height; Weight
Hair Color; Length
Clothing
Glasses/Facial Hair
Was the suspect carrying anything?
Vehicle Description, Color, Make, Model, License Plate


To help your child remember important numbers, keep a current list of lifeline numbers next to the phone. Print it in big letters so that if your child still has difficulty identifying the numbers, they can just look at the numbers and locate them on the keypad.

Have your child practice on an unplugged phone. They can dial 911 and you can be the call-taker. Ask them questions about the pretend incident. Do this kind of role-playing repeatedly. Kids like make-believe and repetition.

If you are teaching your children about 9-1-1, consider the following:

• First, it is important that your child be taught their address and telephone number.
• Secondly, make sure your child can physically reach at least one telephone. Wall mounted telephones can be unreachable for really small children.
• Discuss with your child any situations that may be unique to them. This could include an elderly live-in relative; younger sibling; or any other unique factor that the child might encounter.
• The 911 service is for emergencies. It is important to teach your child not to play with or misuse 9-1-1
• Always refer to the number as "nine-one-one" not "nine-eleven." In an emergency your child may be confused when they can't find the "eleven" button on your telephone.

  If you would like to arrange to have your child call 9-1-1 for real, as part of your training program, please call the dispatch center at  273-2121 and let the dispatcher know you are training your child about 9-1-1. Ask the dispatcher if they have time to handle a 9-1-1 test call from your child before you place that 9-1-1 call.

911 What Is your Address?

The following are 10 suggestions that may help emergency personnel better locate your home:


1. House numbers should be at least four inches high on the front of your house, near the front door where a “lit” porch light makes them visible from the street.

2. Numbers “could” be located on your porch roof support post next to your steps. If this method is used, keep trees and shrubs trimmed from hiding your numbers.

3. Numbers “should not” be just located on curbs or step risers. Snow, leaves or vehicles could obscure the numbers.

4. One inch high numbers are not recommended because they are hard to see at a distance under adverse conditions. These are good for roadside mailboxes.

5. Homeowners with trees and shrubs may want to place two sets of numbers on their property.

6. Homeowners that have alleys to the rear of their property may want to consider numbers on a fence or garage. The police may find it necessary to approach your home from the alley in an emergency.

7. Never paint over your house numbers - it camouflages them.

8. A porch light costs pennies per night to operate, and it illuminates your address numbers. It may even keep burglars and thieves away.

9. Put your address numbers on your trashcans. It adds to marking your home for emergency personnel. Every little bit helps.

10. When calling for emergency assistance, give a brief description of your home, i.e., a blue house with black shutters, green Chevy in the driveway. Make sure you repeat your address back to make sure the operator knows you live at 1234 Somewhere Road, not one block over on 1234 Somewhere Place.