Tips for teaching preschooler to dial 9-1-1?

[dubatatamama]

I would like to teach my just turned 4 year-old when and how to dial 911. Any tips/activities/songs to help with that besides role playing, practicing on a toy phone? We have the book, "It's Time to Call 911" so I plan on re-reading that.

[annaemmie]

A trip to a fire hall/police station/hospital and a tour so dc can meet someone dc might be calling? Putting a place and a face on the other end of the phone might help. Our fire hall gives tours to any resident any time

[crittersmum]

What a great idea! I'd never even thought of this!

[dubatatamama]

Thanks! We have a field trip to the police station planned in the spring with our HS co-op!

[simple living mama]

What I used to do with my kids was to physically practice it with an unplugged phone. I would tell them how important to use it ONLY for emergencies and explain to them why we had to unplug the phone.

Then, during our drives in town we would practice. I would say, "pretend I slipped and hit my head and couldn't talk. What would you do?" I would then pretend to be the 911 operator and have them speak to me. It took them a few times but they got real good at knowing what kinds of things to tell the operator.

They are now 13 and 11 and I still throw the odd senario out at them and ask them how the best way to handle it, ie putting pressure on a heavily bleeding area and so forth.

[spruce]

Using a safety course like 911 for kids http://www.911forkids.com/content/view/61/1/

When I was a FF/EMT, safety education for kids was my BIG priority. I put together a library function where we went and showed kids how to dial 911 (with a 911 simulator), and what a firefighter looks like dressed in full gear. We donned and doffed our gear over and over so kids could see that, while firefighters with respirators and tanks on LOOK scary, they're still the same people under all the gear.

You might have a lot of luck calling your local Trooper or Fire dispatch, and finding out if they lead classes through their dispatch centers. Many places do this. If you have a volunteer F/EMS Dept, you may get great results from just calling the station's business line and asking for Captain or other on-duty person who might be able to take you and your child on a tour.

There is SO MUCH available at local stations, and so many people don't take advantage of the fact that your FD is there for YOU. They want to help you educate your kids, and so do the Troopers, and your local PD.

Have fun!

I've looked and looked, but I can't find a link to the lyrics for the song we used with kids when I was teaching fire safety and prevention...

"Need help in a hurry,
Don't panic, don't worry,
Dial 9 -1- 1.

If there's a house on fire
Or a downed power wire,
Dial 9-1-1.

Now this number's not a game
Or a joke to play.
You should only use it like you hear today,
Dial 9-1-1."

love, p

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by simple living mama

What I used to do with my kids was to physically practice it with an unplugged phone. I would tell them how important to use it ONLY for emergencies and explain to them why we had to unplug the phone.

.

I cannot emphasize the above enough. All 3 of my kids have called 911 after learning about it. (my oldest two togehter - one was 7, one 4) and my youngest a few months ago at an arena when she was bored You think I would have learned after my first two did it.

I know of 3 other families where kids have called 911 after learning about it.

[dubatatamama]

Awesome site spruce!! Thanks!