There are many situations in which this can happen - even if nobody wants it to. Cell phones and telephones are available almost everywhere these days. But are kids ready to call the police (or the emergency services)? We recommend:
- Talk openly with your children about any emergencies
- Actively encourage them to call us if they or other people nearby are in distress
- Help us not to lose the trust of your children. Please do not (!) tell them that the police will come and take them away if they are not good. They should approach US if they need help and not be afraid of us.
- Place the emergency numbers visually so that the children notice them again and again.
- Transfer this to the buttons on the phone with the very little ones too.
- Take away their fear of calling "the wrong number". If in doubt, 110 and 112 will connect briefly.
- Prepare children for a call. Help them to feel more confident with a pattern they have already learned. Please practise the "5 Ws" with them:
WHERE did something happen? (As precisely as possible. The children can also describe it with auxiliary objects.)
WHO is calling? (Name, address, possibly own location)
What has happened?
HOW MANY are affected?
Waiting for questions from officials on the phone.
We hope that your children never have to call 911. But if they do - we are there for them!
Your Mönchengladbach police
P.S.: A request from experience: Many children get a kick out of dialing 110. That's not the point. Sensitize them: Don't be afraid if necessary! But don't joke about it.