News release

Children's 911 DVD Launched

Emergency Management Office

As part of Emergency Preparedness Week (May 7-13), Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office (EMO) has launched a new children's 911 DVD.

The new DVD targets children in grades four to six and is meant to educate them on the proper use of 911. It features emergency scenarios where child actors dial 911 and emergency personnel respond appropriately.

"Knowing when and how to use 911 is such an important lesson for children to learn," said David Morse, Minister responsible for the Emergency Management Act. "We think this new DVD will be very captivating for children, as it features their peers demonstrating exactly what to do in various, realistic emergency situations."

In addition, the new DVD provides information on how to read highway distance markers along 100 series highways, calling 911 from a cell phone and the importance of knowing the location of an emergency. It also comes in VHS format and closed captioning is available.

Erin Campbell, a Grade 4 teacher at Kingswood Elementary School, said the new DVD will be a useful resource in the classroom. "This DVD is a great overview of the appropriate use of 911. It also covers the consequences of inappropriate use of 911, which is a teaching outcome in the Grade 4 provincial health curriculum."

A copy of the new 911 DVD will be distributed to each public library and elementary school in Nova Scotia.

EMO has also partnered with Emergency Health Services to have the new DVD shown by paramedics in elementary schools across the province as part of Emergency Medical Services Week (May 15-21).