Separate a bulletin board into sections with pictures of first responders and the vehicles they drive. Introducing first responders to your pupils can help reduce their anxiety should first responders have to come to their home. If possible include actual photographs of police officers, firefighters and paramedics from your community. This will familiarize pupils with your community servants' uniforms. Tie this bulletin board in with a visit from a first responder for a lasting impression.
It's crucial to teach your pupils what merits a call to 911. Display animated house fires, an injured person or someone in obvious need of assistance. For children who can read, create a chart titled "When to Call 911" and list examples with the assistance of your pupils. Older pupils may ask about calling 911 when police or other helpers are needed in a non-emergency situation. For these pupils, post the phone numbers for non-emergency help on this bulletin board.
Knowing about 911 is essential, but knowing how to dial emergency services and stay calm is even more important. Because dialing 911 in a non-emergency situation is against the law, role-play calls to emergency services. Begin your role-playing with a fellow teacher to demonstrate the phone call and then have pupils take turns. While role-playing, place common questions asked by 911 operators on the bulletin board. Also, place a large phone keypad on the board with the 9 key and the 1 key accented in different colors. Allow your pupils to help decorate this bulletin board by writing answers to the common questions you discuss during role-playing and post them on the board.
Your pupils need to know a few key pieces of information when calling 911. Post these items along with an example or two on your bulletin board. Information such as address, phone number and name must be conveyed clearly and correctly. Use your bulletin board examples to teach these to your pupils. For older pupils, add cross streets and the nature of the injury to this bulletin board. By the end of your lessons and bulletin board examples, your pupils should be able to provide these basic facts quickly in an emergency.