Practice 911

1. Getting Ready.

Equipment:
--Land phone and/or cell phone.
--Batteries removed.
Using the Equipment:
--Begin by practicing how to make a call-how to press buttons, how to start a call, how to hang up.
--Use the phrase "9-1-1" not nine-eleven, so your child will know exactly which numbers to press.
Your Child's Job:
--Speaking up is important. The operator needs to hear the child's voice. Be sure to practice speaking up.
--Begin with, "I need help"
--When operators hear a child asking for help, a pull-out-all-the-stops response is mobilized.
--Stay on the phone until the operators says to hang up.

You may want to read through the script below so you know what you will be asking your child to do.

2. The 9-1-1 Practice Script

Operator:
"Nine-one-one operator. What is your emergency?"

Child:
" I need help," and say what is wrong-fire, threatening person, injury, etc.

Operator:
"Where are you?"

Child:
Provides location-home address, or school, or store. Do not assume the location can be easily traced.

Operator:
"What is your name?"

Child: Child provides first name and last name.

Operator:
"Don't hang up, help is on the way."

There may be additional questions, such as:

"Are you OK? Were you hurt?"
"How old are you?"
"Is the person still around?"
"What did the person look like?"

3. Additional Resources

State Farm Insurance volunteers can often be found at safety fairs with their 9-1-1 simulators. These machines let kids pick up the phone, dial 9-1-1 on a "live" line, and practice talking to a voice that is not the parent's voice. Watch for State Farm at your local safety fairs.

r.a.d.KIDS has safety training programs for that gives kids 9-1-1 practice.

Verizon's "9-1-1 for Kids" has:
--A short video on when to call (puppet skits) that is appropriate for young children.
--A 9-1-1 curriculum plan also includes the "Quiz Show Game" for practice.

Sources:
State Farm Insurance operator script, r.a.d.KIDS, Verizon

PRACTICING 9-1-1 BUILDS CONFIDENCE

More and more kids spend the hours after school home alone, while parents complete their work day. We all know that instructions on what to do in case of an emergency can be quickly forgotten when fright and fear take over, if that moment actually arrives.

Muscle memory of practiced skills can make all the difference, and give your child the skills and self-confidence to do what needs to be done.

Practicing calls to 9-1-1 and asking for help is an important skill for a child who is home alone. When you have finished practicing those 9-1-1 skills, be sure to ask your children how they feel. We're betting they'll tell you they feel safer and much more comfortable knowing they've got the skills to make that call for help.

It is not knowing what to do, it is doing what you know. Training can make the difference between life and death. Valuable seconds can be lost, without training. You do not get those life saving seconds back in an actual emergency. Practice 911 calls and build confidence in your children. Do your children know how to call 911 from inside an office building or a motel room. Usually you have to dial 9 first and wait for a dial tone and then dial 911. You must give your exact location or as close to it as possible. This will help Rescue workers responding to the scene in locating you quicker. I hope this helps and that you never actually have to use it or rely on it. But it is better to practice and be ready, and to know what to do in an emergency.

WHEN you should call 9-1-1

In an emergency

When you need help

When you need the police, fire department or an ambulance If there were no grown-ups around and you had to call 9-1-1.

Stay calm.

Listen for dial tone.

On a push button phone push "9" then "1" then "1" again.

For Rotary phones, dial "9" then "1" then "1" again. Who can tell me WHAT to say when the 9-1-1 dispatcher answers?

Explain what's wrong - what type of an emergency it is.

Explain what type of help you need - fire, police, ambulance.

Explain where help is needed.

Give your name and address loudly and clearly.

Answer all questions that are asked of you.

Do not nod your head. Instead, answer "yes" or "no" out loud.

Do not hang up until the dispatcher says it's ok to do so.

When should you NOT call 9-1-1?

When there is no emergency

As a game or prank

As a joke

To practice (Practice without really calling 911, remove the batteries from the phone or unplug the wall unit).

Make Up Your own 9-1-1 Quiz Show

A "9-1-1 Quiz" show is a fun, interactive way for children to learn when to call and when not to call 9-1-1. Below are several emergency and non-emergency situations you can use to help children decide when it's the right time to call 9-1-1.

Situation Call 9-1-1:
Yes or No
1) Your friend falls out of a tree and is hurt badly Y N
2) You see a stranger lurking around your house Y N
3) You are home alone and you are bored and lonely Y N
4) Your neighbor's house is on fire Y N
5) You see a car accident where someone is hurt Y N
6) You have an argument with your best friend Y N
7) Your dog is limping Y N
8) You see someone breaking into a neighbor's house. Y N
9) There is a fire in your fireplace Y N

Answers: 1) Y, 2) Y, 3) N, 4) Y, 5) Y, 6) N, 7) N, 8) Y, 9) N

What Should You Do?

The following scenarios have been designed for children ages 6 to 8 and may not be appropriate for 4 to 5 year-olds. Please use your discretion. Read each of the "real life" situations below and discuss the best way to handle it.

Burglary or ROBBERY

You come home from school and notice that the door is open. You know that your parents are not home, and you suspect that someone has broken in. What should you do?

Do not go inside. The person who broke in may still be there. Instead go to a neighbor and tell him or her what you saw.

Call 9-1-1 or the police or sheriff's department.

While the police are on their way, NOTE any unfamiliar vehicles parked nearby. Write down the descriptions and the numbers and letters that appear on their license plate.

Followed by a Stranger

While walking home from school you notice that you are being followed by a stranger. Something about him makes you very uncomfortable.

What should you do?

Look for the nearest house with an adult at home - look for an open garage or kids playing outside Tell the adult that someone is following you and ask him or her to call the police, the sheriff's department or 9-1-1. (there is a difference in you asking for help and someone asking you for help).

Give the officer a description of the stranger, including age, height, weight, and color of hair and eyes. Also mention any unusual articles of clothing you may have noticed.

Head Injury While playing at the playground your friend falls from the swing and hits his head on the ground and is knocked unconscious. What should you do?

Ask someone on the playground to please call 9-1-1.

Loosen any clothing around your friend's neck if you can do so without moving him.

Cover him with a blanket, beach towel or jacket.

If his head is bleeding, place a sterile bandage or clean, folded handkerchief on the wound.

Gently apply pressure to stop the bleeding if you can do so without moving him.

When your friend regains consciousness, keep him lying down and quiet until help arrives.

Note: Head injuries should always be taken seriously whether the person is unconscious or not. If your friend feels dizzy, has headaches, is nauseated or bleeding from the mouth or nose, he should be examined thoroughly by a doctor as soon as possible.

What is 9-1-1?

Nine-one-one is the number to call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. A 9-1-1 call is transmitted over dedicated phone lines to the 9-1-1 answering point closest to the caller. Trained personnel then send emergency help as needed.

When should you use 9-1-1?

Nine-one-one is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation which requires immediate response from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt, call 9-1-1. It's best to be safe and let the call taker determine if it's an emergency.

Do NOT call 9-1-1:

For information

For directions

For directory assistance

For paying tickets

As a prank

When you're bored and just want to talk
If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so that he/she knows that there is no emergency.

What about Prank 9-1-1 calls?

A prank call is when someone calls 9-1-1 for a joke, or calls 9-1-1 and hangs up. Prank calls not only waste time and money, but they can also be dangerous. If 9-1-1 lines or 9-1-1 call takers are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency may not be able to get the help they need. In some communities, it is considered illegal to make prank 9-1-1 calls.