Prince George, B.C. – Teaching young children to dial 9-1-1 can help save lives.

That’s the message from E-Comm as part of Emergency Service Dispatchers’ and 9-1-1 Awareness Week (April 12-18).

“It’s heartbreaking when you get a call from a young child who is scared, hurt or needs help for a loved one,” says Jennifer, one of E-Comm’s 9-1-1 call-takers. “You never know when they might need to reach out for help; that’s why it’s so important for kids to learn at an early age what to do in an emergency.”

To help kids learn how to make a 9-1-1 call, here E-Comm shares the following tips:

Show your child how to dial 9-1-1 on both landlines and cells
Explain when to call 9-1-1 in words they can easily understand
Explain to your child that a 9-1-1 operator will ask questions about where they are and what is happening
Ensure children know where phones are located. Keep cordless phones fully charged
Teach children their address
Role-playing what to do in an emergency helps kids understand
Help prevent accidental 9-1-1 calls: Never pre-program 9-1-1 and don’t let kids play with phones
During 9-1-1 role play always unplug landlines or remove batteries from cellphones

For more information 9-1-1 calls click here.