How do I call for help?
Emergencies don't happen very often. But when they do, you want to get help fast. No one wants to spend time looking up a phone number. That's why 911 was created – to make it easy. Dialing 911 on your telephone is the fastest way you can get help for yourself or someone else.
If there is an emergency, calling for help is the most important thing a kid can do. But how do you know when you should call? You should call 911 if a person is badly hurt or in danger right now!
- Can you call 911 if there's been a car accident? Yes!
- Should you call if you see a crime, like someone hurting someone else or breaking into a person's house? Of course!
- What if someone suddenly seems very sick and is having a hard time speaking or breathing or turns blue? Call right away!
- What if someone collapses or passes out? Absolutely call
- What if someone's house is on fire? Definitely call!
When you need to make an emergency phone call, here's what to do:
- Take a deep breath to calm down.
- Tell the operator there's an emergency.
- Say your name and where you are (the exact address if you know it).
- Explain what happened and how many people are hurt. (The operator will need all the information you can provide, so give as many details as you can.)
- Stay on the line until the operator says it's OK to hang up.
It's important to know what to do before an emergency happens. Be sure to talk to your parents or another adult about when and how you should call 911. And remember, if you're not sure whether there's a real emergency and there are no adults around, it's a good idea to make the call. You could save someone's life.
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