Teach Your Kids To Call 911
Teaching kids to call 911 could save your life. Kids are more resourceful than many of us realize.
I was amazed at the resourcefulness of the three years old Australian child, who called emergency services when his mother had an epileptic fit.
The child told the operator that his mother was asleep on the floor bleeding. He was at home with his nine-month-old brother.
Police and ambulance officers raced to the house and took the mother to the hospital for treatment. Police said the woman was unconscious and the boy’s actions may have saved her life.
Australian emergency authorities said, “this is a positive reminder to teach children at a very young age what is required in the case of an emergency.”
Children are often more resourceful, and more resilient than we give them credit for. When I talked with my own children (ages six and eight) about a scenario in which I, say, fall down the stairs, lose consciousness and need them to call for help, they started crying.
I felt bad about making them sad, but I knew that such a scenario is completely possible and that they need to be able to call for help. We taught them how to use the phone and made sure they knew to run to the neighbor’s house, or call 911, in case of an emergency.
Of course, an important part of teaching kids to call 911 is emphasizing that they should only ever call when there’s a true emergency.
Photo by pinqu1963
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Jill responds:
Posted: March 26th, 2008 at 10:30 am →
Thank you for this. We haven’t done it yet. I will discuss this with them tonight over dinner.
Jen responds:
Posted: March 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm →
Only three years old and so resourceful? That’s amazing. Thank you for this post.
Naomi Dunford - IttyBiz.com responds:
Posted: March 27th, 2008 at 5:36 pm →
Hi there… I found your blog via your comment on ZH and I just had to comment on this one. I remember seeing something on some morning show a year or so ago about a woman who had taught her two year old only the week before that if Mama ever had a bad owie, that she was to call 911. Sure enough, the entire 911 transcript was this adorable little girl saying, “Mama owie.”
Amazing stuff. I totally cried my eyes out.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: March 27th, 2008 at 9:49 pm →
Jill, Jen: This really is important.
Naomi: Wow. That’s an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. I’ll go check out your blog now.
CutieGirlDiva responds:
Posted: July 27th, 2010 at 11:17 am →
I have thought about what you wrote here. I think it’s amazing how children can help, and reading doesn’t only touch your heart, it blows you’re mind!