While many children are familiar with dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency situation, they often do not know other important information, such as their address or how to reach a parent at work. You should begin teaching children this important information at about age three:

• Teach your children their full names, their parents’ names, their home address and phone number with area code.
• Teach your children the name of your employer and the phone number.
• Teach your children how to hold the phone properly so that they can speak clearly into the phone.
• Teach your children that it is against the law to call 9-1-1 as a joke or prank.
• Teach your children not to be afraid to call 9-1-1.
• Teaching your children to call you at work before calling 9-1-1 wastes valuable time. Give them permission to call 9-1-1 if they think there is an emergency.