ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — Arapahoe County dispatchers are teaching first graders what to do when calling 911.
On Monday, dispatchers went to Trails West Elementary School to kick off their 911 outreach effort for kids.
“We’re trying to get out into the schools to teach kids…we’re not mean, we’re here to help,” said Nate Treusch, communications supervisor for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
The dispatchers lesson focused on teaching the 6- and 7-year-old students about what an emergency is and what to tell dispatchers when they call.
Dispatchers also shared some emergency exercises for parents and kids to work on at home.
“I’m a parent and you don’t think about what would happen if I passed out, if I couldn’t call 911 and it’s just me and kiddo. And do they know what to do? Do they know how to answer, do they know what to ask?” Treusch said. “Teach your kids their phone number and their address…hammer (that) home.”
Arapahoe County Emergency Communications hopes to visit other schools and teach more students about 911 later this year.