From Toddler Care to Afterschool Programs, Horizon Education Centers partner with parents to equip children with the academic and social skills they need to manage life on a daily basis and possibly even in an emergency.
You’ve probably heard stories of toddlers and young children calling 9-1-1 for help and saving someone's life and have marveled at these amazing young heroes. Your child is just as amazing and he or she could also take life-saving action in an emergency. Of course you hope that your child won't ever need to do such a thing, but you’ll still want to prepare him or her just in case.
Emergency preparation should be age appropriate. Toddlers can be shown how to dial 9-1-1 while older children can be instructed to consult a list of contact phone numbers for circumstances that do not require police, fire department, or ambulance intervention.
Kidshealth.org offers some great tips for "Teaching Your Child How to Use 911." Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you don't have a landline and your children are usually told not to use an adult's cell phone, let them know that it’s okay to use an adult's cell phone if there’s an emergency or they’re in danger.
- Make sure your kids know when to call 911 (fire, break-in) and that they can never call 911 as a joke or prank.
- If your children spend time with family members who have medical conditions, talk to them about when they might need to call 911 for that person. Consider practicing several scenarios so they’ll feel comfortable and know what to do.
- Make sure your children know their home address and home phone number as well as the addresses of relatives they visit frequently. Although 911 calls are usually traced, it is still important that they know where they are. Emphasize that your home address is only to be given out in an emergency.
- Make sure they know your last name. You’d be amazed at how many young children do not know your first name and may not know their own last name. Try to make sure teaching these important facts fun. You’ll never know when they may be crucial in an emergency.
