ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — Rockingham County Fire and Rescue says one of the lessons their Fire & Life Safety Educators cover with school students is how and when to call 911. They have found, however, that more and more families are eliminating a landline from their homes which can make accessing emergency services (fire, rescue and law enforcement) more challenging, especially for a young child who is already dealing with a stressful situation.

Officials are reminding folks that if you do not have a landline, teach your child how to unlock your cell phone and call 911, how to contact 911 if they cannot unlock a cell phone, which neighbors they can go to for help, and what their home address is. While operators can get fairly accurate locations from cell data, there is no guarantee that it will be instantaneous, and it is dependent on many factors. A few moments of preparation now can save minutes in an emergency, the minutes that may make the difference between life and death for you or someone you love.

If you are unsure how to call 911 without unlocking your phone, you can contact your cell service provider or there are several videos available on YouTube depending on your model of phone.

Officials also note to make sure your children knows that 911 is only to be used for emergencies, that non-emergency calls can result in someone else waiting for needed assistance. If 911 is contacted by accident, teach them to stay on the line and let the operator know that there is no emergency at that location.
For any questions, contact Rockingham County Fire and Rescue at (540) 564-3175.