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911-A
Link To Your Child's Safety
The 911 emergency response system is perhaps one
of the most important inventions of modern society. Similar to the
British system of 999, which has been in service since 1937, the 911
system was developed in the United States on the premise that
studies showed most people remember things easier in three’s,
particularly when under stress. Although the United States often
gets credited for its inception, the 911 system was first introduced
in Canada in 1959 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over time, the use of the
three digit telephone number proved to be much easier to remember
than the common seven digit phone number. Today, it has evolved to
be the most effective way of getting emergency assistance and can be
attributed to saving thousands of lives.
Most people don’t really know what the 911
system is or how it works. Simply put, it falls into two categories:
basic 911 and enhanced 911. Through the use of telephone lines and
computer technology, the system integrates two special components.
In the basic 911 system, the computer-telephone link provides the
telephone number where the call is coming from. Thus, making it
possible to callback or cross-check for an address. The enhanced
system, on the other hand, uses both the number tracing, as well as
location tracing. As a result, the computer-telephone system
provides both the telephone number and the address from where the
call is coming from. Depending on where you live, the system may
vary, so it is important for you to find out what type of service
your community provides. It is worth mentioning at this point, that
you can dial 911 from cell phones, however, in most cases, they
cannot provide either a telephone number or location. Although
technology is being developed, using a cell phone requires you to
provide both the telephone number and location information to the
911 centre.
Most 911 calls go directly into a central 911
centre or police station. They are received by either a dispatcher
or call taker. It is very important to remain calm and listen to
what they ask, right from the start of the conversation. That’s
because, their top priority is to find out what type of emergency
service you need and your location. In most cases, you will hear the
person at the 911 centre say, " 911, do you need police, fire and
ambulance?" The reason for this is that, depending on what service
you need, they pass the call on to the respective service. At the
same time, they listen in and monitor your call, in order to
determine if other emergency services are required. The most
important thing to remember is to LISTEN. Let the dispatcher or call
taker ask the questions. They are the professionals and they will
get the help to you as fast as possible by asking specific
questions. So, remain CALM and just answer the questions they ask.
If you have children, it is very important to
teach them to respect the 911 system and explain to them that it is
not a toy. When you dial 911, it locks up a telephone line and if
someone is playing on it, there may be someone else who has a real
emergency that cannot get through. Most schools conduct education
and awareness programs, however, parents should make sure that they
explain the proper use of the 911 system and practice dialing 911
using the telephone. Just hold the receiver down, but let your child
get familiar with how to call in an emergency. That way, if an
emergency happens, panic won’t set in and the training will take
over. Children have proven to be very calm in many emergency
situations and their efforts can be remarkable. Below, is just a few
TIPS for parents, grandparents and anyone else who looks after
children:
Make sure the child knows where the telephone is,
especially if they are visiting relatives.
Show the child how to press the buttons 9-1-1.
DO NOT put 911 into a pre-dial button. Why? If they
visit someone else’s house, instead of dialing 9-1-1, they will dial
the pre-set button like at home. Teach them the right way, the first
time!
Teach your children their name, address and phone
number. Post this information by the telephone and show your child
where it is.
Practice 911 emergency procedures, similar to
practicing an escape plan. Include practicing unlocking the front
door after dialing 911 and turning the front porch light on and off.
Access can delay help getting to a victim and, in emergencies, every
second counts.
Most important
of all, teach your children to remain CALM. And this is only done
through talking about emergencies and practicing scenarios. Make
sure to include regular family talks on what to do in the event of
an emergency and what not to do. By doing so, you will give them the
confidence in themselves to successfully get through an emergency
should it happen. |
