Teach Your Children Emergency Phone Skills

What would your young child do in an emergency? If you and your five year old were home alone and you fell and seriously injured yourself, and could not dial 9-1-1, would your child? If your child did dial the phone, would he or she be able to tell the emergency operator your address? It is very important to teach your children emergency skills. This instruction should start at a very young age, and continue with more skills as your children develop and grow and are able to handle more training.

Even at three years old, you can teach children their parents and possibly grandparents if they live close by, their real names. Children should know their parents’ first and last names. It is also a good idea for them to know at least one set of grandparents if they live nearby, and possibly a trusted family friend that the children are familiar with and that could be counted on in an emergency.

Obviously, all children should know their own full name, address, and phone number with area code. The should also be taught who they are allowed to provide that information to. If you carry a cell phone, your children should know how to get a hold of you on it. They should know that number too. And don’t just have them recite it, have them practice calling. Let them call your cell phone from your house phone and let them call your house from your cell. Practicing and actually dialing the number will help with their memorization of these numbers.

Young children should also be taught about 9-1-1. You can unhook your phone and allow your children to dial the number and then play a game of what information they will need to tell the operator when the phone is answered. This is where it is important that they know their full name, parent’s names, and address. Make sure that you fully explain when it is appropriate to call 9-1-1. (Listening to many of the utter ridiculous calls 9-1-1 operators receive, many adults need to learn this too.)

Adrenal stress training is an important part of self-defense training. It’s proven that many times what a person knows flies out the window when actually involved in an emergency situation. This is true during an actual assault when a person forgets the martial art techniques performed at the last belt test, and it also includes other tasks, such as dialing 9-1-1 and providing clear accurate information. So make a game of it. Have your children engage in some activity that gets their heart pounding and their breathing heavy. (For young children I don’t recommend fear induced adrenaline that we use in some adult programs, but rather running around the house and playing to get tired.) Once in that excited state, give them a disconnected phone and tell them to pretend Daddy fell down and got hurt and to quickly dial 9-1-1 and talk to the operator. Make sure they dial the correct number and talk clearly stating name, address, and what happened.

You’ll be surprised at how well even young kids can do with this once they have been taught. Make it fun and challenging and they will rise to the challenge. Make sure you have an after action review when they are done. Praise them for being brave and being able to help mommy and daddy if an emergency ever occurs. This will help your children become more confident and better prepare them in case an emergency ever happens.