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Published September 03, 2008 06:18 pm - It’s only three numbers, but teaching your children how to dial 9-1-1 can mean the difference between life and death. It happens, said Rich Nordell, executive director of Jasper County’s Emergency Services. Know the 9-1-1 facts: Children should know when and how to call, say emergency services directors By Melissa Dunson
mdunson@joplinglobe.com It’s only three numbers, but teaching your children how to dial 9-1-1 can mean the difference between life and death. It happens, said Rich Nordell, executive director of Jasper County’s Emergency Services. In the past couple of years, he said, a young boy called 9-1-1 and saved his mother from a domestic abuse situation, and a young girl escaped from a man trying to abduct her and called 9-1-1. Both of those children were recently recognized with 9-1-1 Kid Awards for their bravery and quick thinking. “We do have these kinds of situations here,” Nordell said. Children need to know that dialing 9-1-1 is not a joke. Paul Luttrell, communications director for Joplin’s Emergency Services, said 9-1-1 hang-up calls must be investigated, which means potentially life-saving equipment and professionals are at a non-emergency while a real emergency could be going on. Children should know that if they accidentally dial 9-1-1, they should stay on the line and let the operator know that it was an accident. But both Luttrell and Nordell stress that children shouldn’t be afraid of dialing 9-1-1. They just need to be educated about when they should and what they can expect if they do. When to dial 9-1-1 Those three numbers are always and only for an emergency, Luttrell said. His basic definition of an emergency is a situation that is or could be threatening to life or property. That’s an important definition, Luttrell said, especially in educating children that it’s good to call 9-1-1 if they see someone else in trouble. Some of those potential situations include a fire, a crime or a medical problem. “Tell your kids that even if they see something odd, like someone crawling through a window when you know your neighbors are on vacation, they can call and report a prowler,” Luttrell said. What will the operator ask? Luttrell said 9-1-1 operators are charged with considering the well-being of the public, so they will ask callers about the who, what, where, when, how and why of the situation. The information the caller provides will let the operator know if that situation requires police, firefighters or an ambulance. “We might tell them to hang up and go outside to a neighbor’s house and call back, or depending on how old they are, we sometimes have children help perform medical things until we arrive,” Luttrell said. Specifically, each child needs to know his/her phone number and address. But even if they don’t, Luttrell said operators have their tricks for getting the information. 
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