Emergency 911
By patgalca
@patgalca (18188)
Orangeville, Ontario
July 9, 2010 9:01pm CST
In Canada and the U.S. we have 911 as our emergency number to dial for police, fire or ambulance. I taught my children from a young age this emergency number and I believe they were also taught it in school? When my first daughter was very young she picked up the phone and dialled 911, then she hung up. The phone rang a short time later. Emergency services was calling to see if everything was okay because they had received a call from our phone. I apologized profusely explaining that it was my little girl.
Do you think children should be taught how to dial the phone in the event of emergency? Even though we had this happen I still think they need to know.
Today, my 13 year old ACCIDENTALLY dialled 911. She didn't tell me about it. A short time later a police officer showed up at our door. My daughter answered the door and explained what happened but the police officer insisted on speaking to me as well, just to make sure everything was all right. I said, "When my kids were smaller they would just called back, not come to the house." He said they now have to follow-up on these calls. Probably because of the rise in domestic violence.
A year or two back a woman was killed after a dispute with her ex-husband. 911 had been called once; the police didn't think there was anything dangerous going down and left. Several hours later the lady was dead because her ex came back later with a gun he didn't have with him the first time.
Have you taught your children how to call in case of an emergency?
3 people like this
9 responses
@Joker25 (30)
•
10 Jul 10
In the UK we dial 999 and I've mis-dialled once, upon which the police operator immediately phoned back to check I was OK.
I think young children should be taught to contact the emergency services, but never to do so as a prank. There are plenty of stories of single-mums who slipped into a diabetic coma/had an epileptic fit/or similar and whose children were the ones to raise the alarm.
@patgalca (18188)
• Orangeville, Ontario
10 Jul 10
I don't think I have ever heard of anyone doing it as a prank. My little one was curious, I guess, when she did it. I think everyone pretty much knows the call can be traced and pranking it would be useless. These days with almost everyone having call display on their phones, there are no more prank calls... just those annoying telemarketers and I just don't bother answering those ones.
Thanks for commenting.
@Beautyfactor (1512)
•
10 Jul 10
Yes I have and I think it is the duty of any responsible parent to teach children not only the emergency number but their full home address, home telephone number and any other numbers where parents can be reached. You never know when something will happen so kids need to be armed with the information that could potentially save their own or somebody elses life.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
10 Jul 10
Kids need to know how, why, and when it is necessary to call 911. I can understand a child's accident, but how does a 13 year old dial by accident?
A friend once had a cellphone with an auto-911-dialer, and accidentally sat on it. That's the only "accident" excuse I can think of.
@patgalca (18188)
• Orangeville, Ontario
10 Jul 10
I can understand my 13yo making that mistake. Since you live in Ontario you know that we have to dial the 10-digit phone number now. Our area code is 519 and most numbers in our area start with 941. If you accidentally miss a number or slip on the wrong key, you can easily dial 911. I've come close to doing it myself. Sometimes I'll push a number on the phone but it doesn't register and I don't notice it right away.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Jul 10
patgalca oh yes children should be taught how but most importantly when it is to be used and why they should never dial that just for fun. people who r
eally need that help could even die while some child plays at it and dials 911 for fun while someone else as to wait because of that.I do think all children should be taught how and why and also why not.
eally need that help could even die while some child plays at it and dials 911 for fun while someone else as to wait because of that.I do think all children should be taught how and why and also why not.
@ip5217 (1655)
• Philippines
11 Jul 10
Yes. It is still important for you to teach your little kids how to dial 911. Make sure to let them understand that this is only for emergency cases. I'm sure people behind 911 have experienced thousands of cases like those. It is better to be on the safe side, right?
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
14 Jul 10
Domestic violence is really a concern in the United States. Good thing there is a 911 which could respond in emergency cases. Children should be taught that 911 is a serious dial.
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I don't have children, but if I did have one around, I would teach them. I think a child should know how, and when, to call the emergency number. I don't personally know a case, but I've seen on TV where a child knew to call the number.
Heck, even DOGS and CATS have called the number (by being trained to hit speed dial)
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Hi, patgalca. My two children know about 911 but they have not dialed it yet. I know that my son knows how to dial it. It is wise that the police officers talked to you anyway. So many things keep on happening that an emergency can always happen at anytime. They have to instruct an attitude of being safe than sorry. I am glad that you all are okay. I am sorry that this woman did not live due to Domestic Violence.
