911
What You Need to Know About Calling Emergency
911
is only for emergency situations. Use 911to report a fire, to call for
emergency medical service (paramedics), to report a traffic accident
with injuries or fatalities, to get help for a breakin or some other
crime that is happening right then, to report electrical lines that
are down, any chemical leak or toxic spill or any situation where someone
is in immediate danger and could be injured or killed.
What
Happens When You Call
It's
important for any babysitter to know what will happen when you call
9-1-1. The only time you would call 9-1-1 is to ask for emergency medical
treatment, or to get a police officer to come to intervene in an emergency
situation. Here's how to get ready for your call.
It's
important to stay calm. Sure, calling 9-1-1 can be scary, but all you
have to do is let the 911 operator ask you questions and you answer
them. They are trained to ask you all the right questions that will
get help to you as quickly as possible. To be ready to answer, it's
important to have your emergency information sheet ready with this info
for the 911 operator. Be ready to give out:
1. Exactly
where you and the victim are located and where emergency personnel
can find you. That means street address, nearest cross streets or
landmarks. (Note: In some places, the emergency operator may already
be able to see your address and phone number on their dispatcher's
screen. In this case, they will ask you to confirm the information.)
2. Have
the phone number where you are ready, and give them your cell phone
number (if you have one)
3. Be
ready to tell what kind of emergency it is, what led up to the emergency
and exactly what the emergency is. If it is a car accident, be ready
to tell the kind of car and what vehicles were involved.
4. If
there are injuries or a medical emergency you are reporting, be ready
to describe the victim's condition. Is the person having problems
breathing? Have they stopped breathing? How fast or slow is their
breathing? Is their skin cold, or pale or blue? Are they thrashing
around or are they still and quiet?
5. Do
you know if the victim has been taking any medications? If yes, what
kind and how much?
6. Be
ready to tell how old the victim is and about how much they weigh.
7. Keep
talking to the dispatcher. Don't hang up the phone until you're told
directly to do so.
8. If
you're using a cell phone to call 911, be aware that your call will
probably be answered by the highway patrol. They may not know your
location, so be ready to describe it. Know and give them your cell
phone number. Keep dialing even if your phone says "no service".
It can take time for cell service to be established. Get out if you're
inside a house or a car. Cars and thick walls can block cell phone
signals.
Safety
Rage
This cool website from ThinkQuest can help you teach the kids you babysit
all kinds of safety information.
Red-E-Fox
This cool superhero teaches little kids as young as 5 about how to dial
911. It's important for even tiny kids to know that. If something happens
to you, your charges need to know how to call for help!
Teach
Emergency Basics
This website from the Foster City Police department has a great list
of emergency information you can teach your kids. Make learning their
phone number and address a game.
Talkabout
and Do
1.
When should you call 911? What kinds of emergencies are 911 emergencies?
2.
What will happen when you call 911? What kind of information will the
operator ask you to know?
3.
Pretend there was an accident. Ask one person to be the victim, another
to be the babysitter, a third to be the operator. Play through the scene.
Then change roles. Do this three times so everyone gets a chance to
be the victim, babysitter and emergency operator.
4.
Check out our article on Home Fire Drills. Make calling 911 part of
your drill. Do them twice a year at home.
Researched and written by Angela O, 17, California
