Knowing what to do in an emergency can help children feel more confident and could make a real difference if someone at home becomes seriously ill or injured.
It’s something no parent or carer wants to think about, but taking a little time to prepare your child for an emergency can help keep your family safe.
Children don’t need to know all the answers or be able to manage an emergency themselves. However, helping them learn some basic information, how to call for help, and who they can turn to could make a frightening situation a little less overwhelming.
Here are some simple ways to help your child prepare.
Make sure they know the important details
Help your child learn some basic information about themselves and their family. Depending on their age and ability, this could include:
- Their full name and age: Make sure they know their first and last name and how old they are.
- Your full name: Teach them your first and last name, rather than just calling you mam, dad, or another family name – you can specify that using their real name is just for emergencies and when talking to a paramedic, nurse, or doctor.
- Your home address: Help them learn your house number, street name, town, and postcode.
- How to describe your home: Talk about anything distinctive that could help an ambulance crew find you, such as the colour of your front door, a particular gate or decorations, or a nearby landmark.
- Important medical information: If you have a medical condition that could cause you to become suddenly unwell, explain this to your child in a simple, age-appropriate way.
You can practice these details together as part of everyday life, helping your child become familiar with them without making the conversation frightening.
Teach them how to call 999
Knowing how to call 999 and ask for an ambulance is an important skill that could help your child get assistance if someone at home becomes seriously ill or injured.
Talk to your child about when they might need to call 999 and explain that the service is for emergencies only. Hoax calls aren’t common but when we do receive them, they mean that our health advisors aren’t taking calls from people who are really in a medical emergency, so it is important for your child to know that making a hoax call can lead to someone who is very poorly not getting the help they need.
Depending on their age, you can help them learn how to:
- Find and use a mobile phone to make an emergency call – including the double-click feature on iPhones if you have one
- Ask for an ambulance
- Tell the call handler what has happened
- Give their name and home address, if they know them
- Answer questions as best they can and listen carefully to the call handler's instructions
Reassure your child that they don't need to know everything. Our emergency call handlers will ask questions and guide them through what to do next.
Remind them that if they are unsure what to do during a serious emergency, calling 999 and following the call handler's instructions is the right thing to do.
Help them understand important medical information
If you have a medical condition that could affect you suddenly, it may help to explain this to your child in a way they can understand.
You don't need to overwhelm your child with medical details. Focus on what they might notice, what they should do if you become unwell, and how to get help.
It can also be useful to keep a folder at home containing important medical and contact information, such as:
- Relevant medical conditions and health information
- Details of current medication
- Emergency contacts, including their names and telephone numbers
- Your home address and postcode
Keep the folder in a consistent, easy-to-find place and show your child where it is. Explain that the information may help them answer questions if they need to call 999.
Keep the details up to date, and make sure your child understands that they should not delay calling for emergency help to find the folder.
Make sure they know who they can ask for help
In an emergency, children may feel frightened, confused or unsure what to do. Helping them identify trusted adults they can turn to may give them additional reassurance.
Depending on your circumstances, this could include a trusted neighbour, a relative, or a family friend. Talk to your child about who these people are and how they could contact them.
Explain that if someone at home becomes seriously ill or injured, they should call 999 rather than delay getting emergency help to find another adult.
It is also worth discussing what they should do if their usual trusted adult is unavailable, so they have a simple plan to follow.
Practice together and keep the conversation going
The best way to help your child feel prepared is to make these conversations a normal part of family life.
You could practice remembering your address, talk about how to use a phone or role-play what they might say to an emergency call handler. Keep activities relaxed, reassuring, and appropriate for your child's age.
As your child grows, revisit the information and update your plans when circumstances change, such as moving home or changing emergency contacts.
Children should never feel that they are responsible for managing an emergency on their own. Reassure them that their priority is to get help, follow instructions, and keep themselves safe.
We hope you and your family will never need to use these skills. However, a few simple conversations and a little preparation can help your child feel more confident about what to do if an emergency happens.
By working together, we can help children understand how to ask for help and give emergency services the information they need when every moment matters.