Boy Saves Mom's Life with 911 Call: Could Emergency Planning Save Your Life?

Today, news reports include a Christmas miracle: a 6-yr old boy called 911, succeeding in getting his mother rescued from where she was pinned in her overturned car, fading in and out of consciousness. The story warms the heart.

But behind the story lies a secret: people do not react well in stressful situations unless they have drilled their responses. After over 20 years working with emergency response teams, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a plan, predicting likely scenarios, and practice, practice, practice.

Ask yourself: when was the last time your family left the house in a fire drill, and gathered at a pre-planned "evacuation point" where you could check to be sure everyone made it out. If that sounds like the gag in a Hollywood movie about an overly wound up parent, think again.

Take the time out with your family to think through the main situations that could arise in your life. If you are in a zone subject to tornados, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters, talk about your plans in case of the worst: where is the first choice for shelter? What would you do if one or more family members is away someplace?

Even common daily situations demand contingency planning. What if your child loses you at the mall? Do you have a "safe point" everyone should return to if ever separated? If this is not planned in advance, you will be the panicked parent desperately hoping for a PA announcement. It can all be avoided with a little foresight.

And finally, talk to your kids about 911. Seeing it on TV may be enough training, but parental guidance is better. Help your kids to understand what a great job those operators do, connecting hundreds of desperate people to the hope they need. Teach them never to make joke or prank calls to 911, but not to hesitate to dial if something really bad does happen.

Teach them especially the most basic principle of a 911-call:Stay on the phone until the operator tells you to hang up. After all, the life you save may be your own.

Top Articles on Safety Planning:

Why Isn't There An Emergency Help Line for Mothers?
My 7 Must Haves to Survive a Storm with Small Children
7 Summer Safety Basics to Keep Your Family from Harm