What age do you teach them about 911?

[minervamae]

I just read this www.cnn.com/2015/01/25/us/michigan-pregnant-mom-911-call/index.html about a 4 year old who called 911.  I know this lady had a special reason to teach her daughter, but I just can't imagine my 4 year old being ready to learn this.  What age did/will you teach your LOs about 911?

I considered this during my pregnancy as I have precipitous labors and DH works 90 minutes away, but decided I'd prefer to deliver the baby alone (as I did with my first) than try to teach her.  The thought of trying to explain what might be happening if I needed her to call someone...and how to make this a serious thing without it being scarring just seemed overwhelming.  Maybe I'm just a wimp.  I admit I'm also not in a hurry to tell her that there could be a time when mamma can't fix everything.

Thoughts?

[vk]

H is a cop so DS will learn about all that pretty early. I don't know a specific age but it will start out with the basics - this is what daddy does, etc. and build from there.

[professorbinns]

DS is my first so I can't give an exact age but I strongly feel that I will teach him as early as possible. I worry that if something happens to me and DH doesn't come home for another 12 hours what would happen to him.

[shevacc]

Hmmm...I've taught DD (2.5) our street but we haven't talked about emergency preparedness yet nor can she use the phone herself.

I could see the conversation coming up by age 4, especially if I suspected she would need to call. I think it depends on the child and the situation, though. And certainly it wouldn't be a one time thing, but something to practice.

That's great that mom prepared her daughter and the child was able to remember what she learned in the moment! What a way to turn a scary situation into one with a happy ending.

[redhorizon343]

Um. If 6 months old is too early, then I can't really think about it yet. I am still operating on a "What do I have to worry about today, tomorrow, etc." and can't think more than a month or two down the road.

But I imagine that once a child is old enough to use a phone and mature enough to understand what an emergency situation is. So, years from now. 3-5?

[mandapanda1382]

I think 4 is a totally reasonable age. But it really depends on your kid, their maturity, their skills, etc.

[merry]

I was actually thinking about this the other day as I almost tripped walking up stairs with DS. Since DH is gone 4-5 days at a time if something happened to me it'd be quiet sometime before someone would be at the house but DH would know something is wrong if he didn't hear from me as usually. DD is fairly mature and will be 4yr in a few weeks. I think we will start talking about this soon.