Certain scenarios may present themselves where children are faced with an emergency and it is vital for them to know how to call for help when needed.
This according to Jason Mordecai, managing director at 7Arrows Security who said the first thing to teach children is what constitutes an emergency. “Talk to your children about what they may need emergency help with, and who the people who should respond are,” he said.
By explaining the different emergency scenarios will help children identify what constitutes as an emergency, such as medical, fire and stranger danger, he said. “It is important for children to understand who will be responding and why they need these people to come and help.”
He said once a child can recognise that they are in danger and are able to trust that someone other than a parent is needed, they can then call for help and be confident aid will come.
“In many of our homes a panic button is available and, therefore, teaching your children to press such a device can be a life-saving lesson,” added Mordecai.
“The benefit of a panic button means young children who don’t yet know their address, can be taught to press a linked panic button and have a signal received by a security company knowing exactly where they are without having to tell them this verbally.
“Take your child through the process and show them where the panic buttons are in your home and how to dial emergency services on your phones.”
Captain Granville Meyer, the spokesperson for Sandton Police Station, provided some tips and said children should know their full names, their parents’ names, address and phone numbers. “If the child feels threatened, teach him or her to phone an emergency number. Emergency numbers could be your telephone number at work, that of the police or a trusted neighbour who will be at home,” said Meyer.
Have you taught your child what to do in an emergency? Share your tips with us on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page
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