Kiwanis

A partnership between Kiwanis of Gainesville and the City of Gainesville

Lesson Title: "Emergency! It's 9-1-1"

Level: K-3

Objectives: After completing this lesson, children will have the knowledge and skill to:

1) Recognize which emergency situations require a 911 call;

2) Recognize which situations do NOT require a 911 call;
3) Remain calm and not get scared due to the emergency;
4) Dial 911 and provide the correct information to the operator;
5) Avoid making false 911 calls.

Time Frame: 20 minutes

Materials:

Large phone keypad on a display board, 911 script for an emergency, large 911 emergency flash cards

Video(s):

Not sure what is available at this time

Activity(s):

1) Children will take part in a Q & A session, to determine whether the "emergency" is really worthy of a 911
call. The activity has a set of large flash cards with minor and major emergencies written (or graphically
represented) on one side, and the appropriate action on the reverse.
2) Children can role-play a practice emergency using a 911 operator and phones. Care will be taken that the
role-play simulates a real call, and that children understand the urgency of calling quickly and providing the
correct information.

Assessment(s):

Children will receive a pre-quiz to determine knowledge about the safety aspects of dialing 911,
administered by the classroom teacher. A post-quiz will be given at the conclusion of this lesson, consisting of
the same material, only re-arranged. Other skills will be assessed by the instructor, via children's participation,
cooperation and willingness.

Background Info:
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Emergency! It's 911
 Kiwanis

A partnership between Kiwanis of Gainesville and the City of Gainesville

The 911 national response system was designed to speed the response time of emergency personnel in
the event of a real emergency. In the past, each emergency service had an individual number, which were often
not available at the time of the crisis. By creating a central computer-driven calling network, emergency
personnel are alerted faster, have access to critical information, and have an open channel of communication
with those on-site. The 911 system is capable of handling any type of emergency: fire rescue, law enforcement,
ambulance, poison control, marine patrol, forestry and crisis centers. Citizens help pay for this service, but
benefit immensely. When someone calls 911, computers instantly reference the callers name, address and
phone, and display it on the 911 operator's screen. The operator is trained to verify this information with the
caller, keeping data accurate and up to date. These operators undergo extensive training; both in classroom and
practical experience handling simulated 911 calls. These operators' staff 911 call centers 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, 365 days a year.

Pre-Teaching:

Teachers will have the opportunity to introduce the subject matter prior to their visit, through
exercises and/or video from the Risk Watch curriculum, or from Gainesville Fire Rescue.

Lesson Introduction:

When an emergency happens, you need to know what to do. Time is critical. Information is key.
Communication is vital. How can you notify the right people to respond? It's as easy as going to the phone and
dialing one number for any kind of crisis - 911. Since 1968, the 911 communication network has provided
emergency response personnel with the information and communication necessary to handle the crisis. Children,
as well as adults, need to know WHEN to call, and HOW to interact with the 911 operator when they do.
Children especially can become so anxious, upset and flustered that precious time is lost in getting help to the
scene. By understanding and practicing 911 call procedures in a classroom setting; children can become
confident and knowledgeable if an emergency arises. This lesson is intended to teach children how and when to
call 911, and how to supply important information to the 911 operator in order for help to arrive.

Key Concept 1: Call 911 For Emergencies Only

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Emergency! It's 911
 Kiwanis

A partnership between Kiwanis of Gainesville and the City of Gainesville

Key Idea:

Emergencies are those serious situations when something unexpected and dangerous happens, and people
get injured or even killed. That's the time to call 911.

Key Questions:

How many of you know what an emergency is? Who can give me an example of an emergency?
(Responses might be a car crash, a burning house, plane crash, someone hurt or feeling bad, etc.) Good. An
emergency happens when there's been an accident, someone is hurt badly, or is in a situation where they COULD
be injured or killed. Let me give you some examples, and you tell me if these are emergencies or not. What if:

1) You smell smoke or see flames pouring out of a house window? YES.
2) You forgot to clean your room? NO.
3) You hear a loud noise and see two cars have crashed in the road? YES.
4) You can't find your backpack? NO.
5) You find your mom or dad, sister or brother lying on the floor and you can't wake them up? YES.
6) You missed the school bus? NO.
7) Your friend, sister or brother swallowed a big piece of candy, and now they can't speak or breathe?
YES.
8) You can't find your shoes? NO.
9) You see a strange man or woman looking into your windows and trying to break into your house? YES.
10) You accidentally make a huge mess in the kitchen trying to make breakfast? NO.
11) You see someone trying to burn down a building or start a dangerous fire? YES.
12) Your mom or dad comes home late from work? NO.

Good. These are some examples of real emergencies. These people need HELP, and they need it fast! Now,
some emergencies can be pretty scary. If someone has been badly hurt in a car crash, or burned in a fire, their
injuries may look awful, and that can frighten you. There may be blood, or broken arms or legs. But if you're
going to be able to help them, you need to stay calm, and not panic. Remember, these injured people are
counting on YOU to be brave and get them the help they need. So if something looks scary, try not to be
frightened, and concentrate on getting help.

Activity: "Emergency! It's 9-1-1"

Concept Review:

What are some examples of REAL emergencies? What are some examples that are NOT real
emergencies? What is the best thing you can do to be a big help in an emergency?

Key Concept 2: 9-1-1 is a call for H-E-L-P

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Emergency! It's 911
 Kiwanis

A partnership between Kiwanis of Gainesville and the City of Gainesville

Key Idea:

911 is the number to dial if a child has to respond to an emergency.

Key Questions:

How do you think you could get help if there was an emergency? (Responses should be to call a doctor,
call the police, call the fire department, etc.) YES. Use the phone. But what number can you call that can get
any kind of help you might need? 911. Good.

A) Dial 9-1-1. You don't need to dial any other numbers except 9-1-1. How will you know if you dialed the
right number? What do you think the person who answers will say? Here's what they'll say:

"911, what is your emergency?"

What do you say back to them? What kind of information do you think they'll need? (Responses should be
their name, where they live, what is going on, etc.) Good. Here's what you'll need to tell them so they can
respond to the emergency:
B) Tell the operator WHAT the emergency is; WHAT has happened. There's been a car crash, a fire, etc.
C) Tell the operator WHERE you are, or WHERE you live. Do you know the address?
D) Tell the operator WHO needs help. Tell them HOW MANY PEOPLE need help as best you can.
E) The 911 operator is going to ask you some questions, to help them decide what kind of help you need. You
need to LISTEN to the instructions, and follow them carefully. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. STAY CALM,
AND LISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTIONS. THIS WILL KEEP YOU SAFE, AND GET HELP AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE. The operator will ask you WHO is with you - and if you are SAFE where you are. Answer them as
honestly as you can. Let them decide what you should do. The 911 operator has been trained to make these
kinds of decisions, so they're the experts. LISTEN TO THEM.
F) The 911 operator may ask you other questions, to help them understand the kind of emergency it is, and
whom they need to alert to respond. Try to answer them as best you can. If you don't understand what the
operator is asking you, tell them you don't understand, and they will help to make things clearer for you. NEVER
JUST HANG UP THE PHONE. KEEP TALKING TO THE 911 OPERATOR.
G) Once the 911 operator has all the information they need, they will tell you to hang up the phone.
WAIT UNTIL THE OPERATOR TELLS YOU TO HANG UP BEFORE YOU DO.
H) Once you've hung up the phone, follow the instructions that the operator has given you. Remember,
once you are in a safe place, stay there. Don't risk getting hurt by trying to help before professional help
arrives.

Concept Review:

What is the emergency number? How will you know you've reached a 911 operator? What kind of
information will the operator ask you for? What should you do if the operator gives you instructions? When do
you hang up the phone?
Key Concept 3: Know When Not to Call
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Emergency! It's 911
 Kiwanis

A partnership between Kiwanis of Gainesville and the City of Gainesville

Key Idea:

911 is reserved for emergencies. But when in doubt, call 9-1-1

Key Questions:

Calling 911 is just for emergencies. When you dial 911, the operator is expecting that there has been an
emergency, or an emergency is currently in progress. A 911 operator should NEVER get wrong numbers. Why do
you think this would be dangerous? What would happen if someone called the 911 operator as a joke, and there
was a real emergency going on at the same time? Would help arrive as fast as it could have? NO. Would people
who might be badly hurt get the help they need quickly? NO. Here are 3 reasons NEVER to call 911:

1) As a joke. Crank calls are more than just a nuisance - wasting an operator's time can delay another
emergency call, and delay help getting there in time to save lives.
2) To ask for information. 911 operators have a specific job to do, and they don't have time to give out
general information.
3) To see if the number works. You can be sure that if you dial 911, the network will connect you to a 911
operator. YOU CAN TRUST THE SYSTEM.

Concept Review:

When do you call 911? What is one thing you would NOT call 911 for?

Lesson Summary:

Thanks to the 911 national response system, emergencies can now be handled much easier, faster, and
with better understanding than ever before. While adults have the maturity and experience communicating in
times of stress, children need to be taught proper procedures in the event they are the responsible party
during an emergency. In order to make a correct 911 call, children need to know how to describe the type of
emergency, follow instructions and keep calm so the proper personnel can be dispatched. In addition, children
should understand that 911 is used for emergencies only, and should never be used for play. This lesson is
intended to teach children how to respond with a 911 in the event of an emergency, and how to complete a 911
call successfully to bring help to the scene.

Follow-Up Activities:

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Emergency! It's 911
 Kiwanis

A partnership between Kiwanis of Gainesville and the City of Gainesville

1) Children could take part in 911 role-plays in the classroom. One team of children could develop different
emergency scenarios, while another team could practice calling 911 and delivering the proper information.
Teams could switch and play opposite roles.
2) Schedule a visit to an operating 911 call center, or dispatch center such as Gainesville Police Dept. This
could expand children's knowledge of types of emergencies where dialing 911 would be appropriate, and
provide an avenue for more emergency -related training.

Evaluations/Assessments:

1) Children will be required to take a "Picture Quiz", with illustrations showing correct and incorrect behavior as
it pertains to lesson objectives. Children need only circle the picture showing the correct behavior.

2) Approximately 2 - 4 weeks after they attend Safety City, teachers will be asked to "test" the children once
again, to achieve a measure of retention. There will be instructions in the Teacher Packets on how to best re-
visit this topic. Some options include: re-take of the Picture Quiz or giving the quiz verbally and recording
average scores on a checklist. The teacher will be advised to review the material with the class before they
administer the re-evaluation. The results will be sent to GFR as feedback and inclusion in reporting and
statistical analysis.

Take-Aways:

1) For CHILDREN; an extensive goody bag containing coloring/activity/story books pertaining to the lesson,
personalized Certificate of Achievement, healthy snacks, safety poster, "Be Cool" sunglasses, t-shirt, other
related safety material FOR PARENTS TO READ, Safety City information and upcoming events or fun contests
to enter. A GROUP PICTURE will be taken before the end of class.

2) For TEACHERS; topic-related review material for post-lesson assessment & mail-back, personalized
Certificate of Achievement, Safety City schedule of events, follow-up activities/information, other safety-
related material and a Letter to the Principal (explaining Safety City goals, objectives, accomplishments,
background and invitation to join the supporting cast).

Attention Teacher:

There are many ways to prepare children for their educational experience at Safety City. Prior to the
scheduled class, information about each lesson will be sent to the school in order for them to introduce the
subject matter, familiarize children with Safety City, and briefly discuss the roles, responsibilities and ground
rules for an enjoyable, "hands-on" learning experience.

For More Information:

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Emergency! It's 911