What Do You Do When The Operator Won't Listen?

911.

My mother and I were talking about this today. We teach our children their address, their phone number, to find a policeman or store employee when they get lost, and to call 911 if something happens. We teach them to trust that the 911 operator is going to take them seriously, that the operator will hold their hand by staying on the phone, talking to them, until the police arrive.

But how do we combat this? What do we teach our children to do, should the 911 operator NOT believe them?

I'm angry at the operator. I'm upset for this little boy. He's the same age- THE SAME AGE- as my oldest son. This little boy's faith in the system has been shaken. Will he ever trust 911 again? I don't know. But I can't imagine that he'll forget the day that he watched his mother die while a voice on the phone told him that if he didn't stop playing pranks they'd call the cops on him.

Phones are interesting pieces of equipment. From the time that a child is born, they learn that the phone is something that takes the attention of their parents from them. They watch their parents answer the phone, and usually- they watch the happiness and joy spread across their parents' faces when they are talking. When they're older, they learn that if you push numbers, you can call someone else- even Grandma! Is it no wonder that kids are fascinated- and that it's entirely possible that they could easily dial 911 on the phone, on accident? It happens- sometimes, it's a mistake. Other times, it's a prank.

911 operators should never- NEVER- think that a five year old child calling to say that their mother just fell and that she's not getting up is purposely pranking them. Doesn't matter how old the child in question is- they should never ignore calls that might be pranks.

Because there's always the chance that it's not a prank.

Starting now, I'll be teaching my child the direct number of our police department. Just in case.