When do we teach children to call 911?.. At what age did you teach your child or
By Feona1962
@Feona1962 (7526)
United States
July 16, 2007 3:21pm CST
children how to call 911? Is there a certain age or do you base it on how smart your child is? My grandsons are 5 and 3 and I am teaching them when and how to call 911..How about you? I think is is very important that they know when to call for help..
3 people like this
5 responses
@2wicelot (2945)
•
17 Jul 07
I think it is a good idea to teach them to call as early as possible. But then not to early if not they may just play with the phone as if it is a toy. I heard of some stories in the past where kids saved the day by calling the emergency services. However, I remember on one Jay Leno show why he played some tapes of people making very unnecessary calls to 911. One was a kid that called the police to help him with his maths homework. The funny thing is the dispatcher actually agreed to help. Then we heard the mother shouting in the background, obviously from another room "what are you doing there". The kid replied that he was asking the policeman for help with his maths homework. The mother now shouted I said you should only call if you need help or something like that. Apparently, the kid needed help; but with his homework.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
17 Jul 07
That is a funny story..I agree with you on doing it as soon as possible..Making sure they know when to do it is the key..
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
17 Jul 07
That is the big thing, getting them to understand when and why they would need to call 911. Knowing the numbers is one thing but actually using it correctly is another. thank you.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
16 Jul 07
that is a great age to get them to learn how to dail 911. it is important that they know how, and when. like what reason they need to call. i think you are doing a great thing. 3 is a great age, and at five he is ready. way to go grandma
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
16 Jul 07
I really got to thinking about this when the boys and I go out we are always walking somewhere, either long distance or straight up hill sometimes..One day I showed the oldest how to call papa on my cell which is number 1.. and if grama falls down the hill (god forbid) dial 911. The little one says, gama, "are we gonna have to call the amlance for you?" I told him if they take me up any more trails that are straight up they just might have too! LOL..thank you for your comment
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
21 Jul 07
I think my daughter was 3 or 4 when I taught her about calling 911. She was able to understand the concept of calling them for help when there was bad trouble. I think it all depends on how smart the child is and how well he or she understands what is being taught as to whether something should be shown to them, like calling 911.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Jul 07
I agree. I asked the boys today if something happened to grama who would they call and they said 911. I said very good. I then asked who 911 was and the 5 year says, "the ambulance people." I then asked them if 911 was a number they could call whenever they wanted to and they said, NO. I was very proud of them. They know about strangers too! Never open the door to a stranger. thank you.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
16 Jul 07
I think I need to teach my son now, he turns 5 at the end of this month. I think he will be able to understand now too. He knows his full name, his address, his parents names and our home number, and I am in the process of teaching him our cell number, just in case. I think the next step is to teach him how to call 911. Thanks for bringing this up Feona.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
17 Jul 07
It is good that he knows his address and parents names and such..my oldest knows his parents names as well as ours. I think this is the time to do it..thank you. and you are welcome..
