When should kids know 911 or other safety stuff?

ElizabethD

 I have a lot of medical stuff going on including more-than-normal-dizziness.  So my mind goes to being in the shower, fainting (which I have never actually done in my life) and what would happen to my kids.

Then I drift into what should I be doing to ensure my preschooler can be the best preschooler in that situation.  Like, he knows my real first name, dadd's first name, our last name. But he doesn't know our phone number, or 911... but I don't know if it's a good idea to teach him the phone quite yet (especially 911 because you don't mess with that.)

Any ideas?  is it closer to 4-5ish when you can really get into the basics of safety with kids?  (He's 3.5 now.)

firefightersgal

We already teach safety stuff to our daughter at age 2.  Obviously, she can't call 911 today, but I'm sure you've seen on the news where a 3 year old or so called when something happened to their parent.

It's more or less built into our DNA, though.  DH is a firefighter and my father is also a firefighter.
 

ilovemygirls

Oh, I think he'd be more than ready to learn some of the basics.  Our oldest just turned 4 and we talk about what 911 is and why/when you would or would not call.  She has also memorized our address & we're working on our phone number.  We made up a little tune to our address & taught her that way, will do the same thing with our phone #.  Since you have some very specific medical concerns I would definitely want to be talking about that with him if I were you.  GL...

Littlejen22

As long as you do not have a good reason to believe your DS will call 911 just because he can then I would teach him, it can save you and your kids. 

W&J'sMommy

I've been working on teaching my son to call MH (speed dial) and as soon as I think he would get it I will teach him 911, I would guess around 3-4.

You should teach him to call your husband's cell, that may give you some peace of mind.