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911 Tips for Youth and Parents
- Make sure your child can say their first and last names, and can provide their address or location
- Explain the different emergencies that might require your child to call 911, such as:
- Fire
- Medical emergency
- Car accident
- Stranger danger
- Ensure that your child understands that 911 should only be called if there is a real life-safety emergency. It should never be called for practice, a joke, or for any other non-emergency reason. Doing so prevents 911 dispatchers from responding to someone who may be in an emergency situation.
- Show your child the steps for calling 911 on your mobile phone. If you have a security lock on your phone's home screen, teach your child how to unlock it.
- Go over your mobile phone's keypad several times to familiarize them with making a call. Have your child practice making a phone call from your mobile phone by calling a family member or friend. Do not call 911 to practice with your child.
- Practice, practice, practice. The more repetition you can provide, the easier it will be for your child to recall the steps - even in an emergency.
- Do not let your children play with old mobile phones. Because old mobile phones are still able to dial 9-1-1 even if they are not active with a wireless carrier, they should not be used as a toy.
911 Tips for Seniors
When emergencies strike, seconds count. Many times, seniors don't know if they should call 9-1-1 because they don't know if they have a true emergency or they don't want to bother others with their problems. 9-1-1 is there when you need it. If you don't know if you are having an emergency, call 9-1-1 and ask.
Emergencies may include, but are not limited to:
- Chest pains or trouble breathing
- Diabetic emergencies
- Bleeding that won't stop
- Falling down and unable to get up or having severe pain moving
- Heart attack or stroke signs or symptoms
- Smelling smoke or natural gas in your home
- Seeing smoke or fire, no matter how small
- Seeing someone suspicious outside your home
- Hearing strange noises inside or outside your home
- Anytime you feel your safety is at risk; call 9-1-1 FIRST