Any tips on how to teach youngish kids to dial 999 if we alone and they see me fit?

[Cherriuz]

So, I've been advised by my social worker to teach my 4 and 5 year old boys how to ring 999 incase I am alone with them when I have a seizure, being as we are alone a lot while the other half works.
The problem is, I know for a fact that both of them would freak out if they ever saw it, and i know they would not think to ring 999, there is no way i can mentally prepare them for seeing it, i can tell them what to expect but its hard for them to understand at that age.
Does anyone have any tips? Or have been through this with young children? It's playing on my mind a lot, I really don't want them to be at risk while I am not reponsive but I'm unsure as to how to handle it (and my social worker is usless)

 

[Nakamova]

You can teach them about 999 with a general lesson, rather than making it just about what might happen to you -- that way it may seem less scary. (Though you'd be surprised -- kids are surprisingly resilient and matter-of-fact about stuff). You might check with the local fire department or ER to see if they have programs or materials for teaching kids about. This link might help: http://www.netmums.com/lifestyle/ho...sential-safety-for-kids-calling-999-emergency

 

[Cherriuz]

Ahhhhh super link! thank you very much - having a read on it now! You really are a big bundle of knowledge!

 

[Cint]

Here in the US, we dial 911 in an emergency. My kids were taught at an early age, just in case they had to use it. Sure enough, when my son was 3 and my daughter was 6 years old, I suffered a TC while getting my daughter ready for school one morning. Their dad is a pilot and was out of town that day, so my daughter did what she was taught, she dialed 911. Of course, they were scared to death, but I knew what had to be done in my situation. They had seen some CP seizures and knew their mommy had epilepsy and so did our neighbors and friends. We had NO family within 1000 miles, so had to rely on friends. And I saw an epileptologist.

Is there an Epilepsy foundation where you live?
Perhaps this will help with your kids: http://www.epilepsy.com/Kids/KIDS

 

[Bathtub]

No specific tips but to say that 4 is well old enough to understand when mum really isn't well, and they have to call a doctor/ambulance right now. You just have to set the guidelines clearly.

I can say this definitely because my friend has *very* severe asthma and she could not risk a second pregnancy until her firstborn was old enough to call the ambulance if mummy collapsed while daddy was out at work, and the daughter was able to do this when she was not quite three. The parents composed the script and taught it to her word for word, just like you teach them to say their full name and address in case they get lost. And they also taught her very clearly that she was never ever to do it for fun, only for real. I think she had to do it three, maybe four times, and she was so proud to be able to help mummy and the new baby that was growing. Not at all freaked because she knew help would come quickly.

 

[rich956]

you can try to train them and im sure they would suprise you.
they know when something is not right.
I taught my son what to do when he was 4.
he is now 21 and has help me out many times.
The Boy Scouts even awarded him a lifesaving medal.

 

[Maidenminx]

My son is 7 and we have a social story for him.

I just made him up a little book with the basics of what to look for, how to dial emergency, how to call daddy, and to film mummy on his iPad so the ambulance guys know what to do.

So far he hasn't had to call, but he knows how and when to. If he sees daddy recorda seizure he asks if we need an ambulance. Between his autism and health issues as an infant, my hubby's cyclic vomiting syndrome, my mums chronic asthma and my brothers habits of hurting themselves he's familiar with ambulances and hospitals.

 

[Cherriuz]

Thanks everyone, luckily my 5 year old knows his address and postcode and everything like that because they have been learning it at school. So I will have to have a talk with him about calling 999, he knows the ambulances help poorly people because we had them here a few times, but hes never had to deal with it alone, just debating how to approach it at the moment, all your words have been GREAT and I am now confident this is something that can be done