Self Defense

Do Your Kids Know 911?

What's one of the most important things your kids need to know as they head off to school this year?

They may know their reading, writing, and arithmetic, but do they know about calling 911 in an emergency?

There was a story last week in the news about a brother and sister in a small town in Utah who were walking home from their piano lesson. A man in a pickup truck stopped in front of them and started talking to them. He was asking them questions, wanting to know what their names were, their phone number, and if they would help him find his lost puppy. Trusting their intuition, the kids knew something was up and started away from the truck. The man jumped out and forced the girl into his vehicle.

Right away the girl tried to get away and made so much noise that the man eventually let her out and she made her way safely home.

But her brother ran to the nearest house to call 911 and report the crime. When asked how he knew to do that, he stated that because his family talked about it, he knew what to do.

Do your kids know that 911 is their number, too? Even four-year-olds can grasp the idea. Unplug your house phone or turn off your cell phone and let them practice pressing 9-1-1. After they dial, act as the operator and go through the type of questions that they might be asked. Practice this exercise once a month, or until the kids are comfortable with the situation.

This may be the most important lesson of all.

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