Teaching your Children about 9-1-1

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) recommends talking with your children about different types of emergencies in a calm, reassuring way.

​​By asking simple questions and practising emergency scenarios, you can help your children feel confident about what to do in an emergency.

This tip sheet includes recommendations for teaching your children about emergencies, ways to practice calling 9-1-1, and examples of questions a dispatcher may ask.

Review this information with your children every year. As they grow and mature, you can provide more detail and discuss more complex situations.

 
 
  • ‎9-1-1 is the number to call when someone is in danger or needs emergency help.
  • Always say ‘nine-one-one’.
    • Do not call it ‘nine-eleven’.
    • During an emergency, a child may look for the number 11 on a phone keypad, which can cause confusion.
  • 9-1-1 is a safe number to call. Children can trust the dispatcher who answers.
  • If you live in an area without 9-1-1 service, teach your children the local emergency number. Keep it clearly posted near your home phone.
  • Point out police officers, firefighters, paramedics, ambulances and fire trucks when you see them in your community.
    • Example: "There’s an ambulance. Paramedics work in that ambulance. If you call 9-1-1 because someone is very sick or hurt, they will come to help."

 
 
  • Call 9-1-1 only when you need emergency help from ambulance, fire or police services.
  • Never call 9-1-1 as a joke or a game.
    • Making false or prank calls to 9-1-1 is against the law.
  • Make sure your children know they should be in a safe place before calling 9-1-1.
  • If there is a fire in your home, leave the building first. Then call 9-1-1 from outside or from a neighbour’s house.

 
 

Help your children learn what an emergency is and when they should call for help.

Questions can be a helpful way to start the conversation.

  • What would you do if someone could not breathe?
  • What would you do if someone fainted?
  • What would you do if you scraped your knee?

Role-playing different situations can help children understand the difference between an emergency and a minor injury.

 
 
  • A dispatcher will answer and ask whether you need police, fire or ambulance services
  • If you need an ambulance, the dispatcher will ask what happened and where you are
  • Be ready to give the address of where you are, the apartment number (if applicable), and your phone number
  • While you are speaking with one dispatcher, another dispatcher may already be sending paramedics and an ambulance to help
  • Listen carefully and follow the dispatcher's instructions
  • The dispatcher will stay on the phone until paramedics arrive or until it is safe to end the call
  • Do not hang up unless the dispatcher tells you to do so

Practice calling 9-1-1

Regular practice can help children feel prepared and confident.

Try these activities:

  • Ask your children when they should call 9-1-1
  • Practise emergency scenarios through role-playing
  • Ask them to identify emergency workers and emergency vehicles in your community

Emergency preparedness tips

  • Keep a first aid kit at home and in your vehicle
  • Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in an easy-to-find location
  • If your community uses a different emergency number, make sure it is clearly posted
  • Make sure the address numbers on your home are easy to see from the street, including at night​