911 and Personal information
We have all heard the amazing human interest stories of preschool-age children calling 911 and saving a family member, but does YOUR child know how to do this? By this age, students should be aware of what to do in case of an emergency. Here at school, we go over the very basics. We teach kids about the process of calling 911 and encourage them to memorize their personal information. However, here are some additional "emergency" things to consider teaching or discussing with your child:
- Does your child have regular, reliable, and consistent access to a phone? As landlines become increasingly rare, many families rely only on cell service. But, cell phones are portable, frequently lost, and frequently in an adult's care. Children may not know where to find one in case of an emergency. If they CAN locate one, do they know how to use it, how to unlock it, or that they can still call out to 911 with the lock on? Many phones are still able to access 911 EVEN when deactivated by the service provider (as long as it has a charge). If you have an old phone, you may consider keeping it charged and in a safe place that your children know about JUST to call 911 in case of an emergency. However, deactivated phones do not have GPS capabilities so it is VITAL your child know their personal information such as street address and parent's name.
- If they cannot find a phone, what do you expect them to do? Is there a neighbor they should run to? What is their Plan B if that neighbor is not home? Does your neighbor KNOW that they are part of your emergency plan?
- What personal information should your child know? Many children live in multiple homes with multiple addresses to remember. When I was a child, we were told to learn our home phone number and maybe a work number for one parent. Again, with cell phone technology, we have many children who have multiple parent/guardian numbers to learn. One child I was talking to this week had a list of cell and work numbers for their mom, dad, stepmom, stepdad, and grandparents. There is no way a kindergarten student can memorize 10 cell and work numbers! Which 1-3 phone numbers are most important? Do you have a safe place in your home where emergency numbers are posted?
- Does your child know the different responses to a medical emergency, a fire, or other emergencies that may occur at your home or in your neighborhood? Some people think that talking about these things will scare kids, but emergencies are a common theme in children's books, movies, and television shows, and are talked about at school. Prepare your child appropriately so they have the best chance of responding appropriately and surviving in an emergency!