Medical Emergencies
You’re cooking dinner and accidentally touch a hot pan. You have a small burn on your hand, but it’s not blistering, and you can still move your fingers.
Don’t call 911. Apply cold water to the burn and cover it with a clean cloth. Seek medical advice if needed.
You are cooking. A fire starts in the pan, but you smother it with a lid.
Do not call. The fire is out and you are safe.
You left your backpack in the cafeteria, and when you returned, it was gone.
Don't call. Check the lost and found, and then report it to the school resource officer if it is still missing.
You’re riding your bike with a friend, and they fall off after hitting a bump. They scrape their knee but get up and say they’re fine.
Don’t call 911. If the injury is minor and your friend is okay, you can help clean the scrape, but there’s no need for emergency services.
It’s raining heavily, and your entire street is starting to flood, but cars are still driving through.
Don’t call 911. A little bit of flooding is a common occurrence. There’s no need to call unless the flooding starts to rise too much and becomes dangerous.
Your friend ate something , and now their face is swollen. They tell you that it is getting difficult to breathe.
Call. They could be experiencing a severe allergic reaction that requires medical attention.
A candle on the windowsill catches the nearby curtain on fire. The flames are small but spreading. You have a fire extinguisher in the room.
Call 911 after attempting to put out the fire. Even if the fire seems small, if it’s spreading, there’s a chance it could get out of control quickly. Use the fire extinguisher, but call for help if needed.
You see graffiti on a wall at school that wasn’t there the day before. It looks like someone spray-painted words on the wall.
Don’t call 911. Vandalism should be reported to school authorities, not 911, unless it’s happening right in front of you or involves dangerous behavior.
You see two cars bump into each other in a grocery store parking lot. No one is hurt, and the cars have only a little damage.
Since no one is injured and the damage is minimal, the drivers should exchange insurance information. Calling the police might be necessary if they can’t resolve the situation, but it’s not an emergency.
A storm comes through, and a tree falls into your yard. No one is hurt, and there’s no damage to your house.
Don’t call 911. This is not an emergency. You can clean up the tree once the storm passes, or ask an adult to help.
Someone at the table starts coughing uncontrollably after swallowing a piece of food. They are able to speak and continue coughing.
Do not call as long as the person is able to speak, but watch to make sure that they can continue to breathe and speak.
You’re in your living room, and you suddenly see and smell smoke, but you can't find the source of the smoke.
Call 911. The source of smoke could be from hidden flames or an electrical fire in the walls, which may not be visible. Firefighters should inspect to find the cause.
You’re walking home and see someone cutting the lock off a bike that’s tied to a bike rack. They quickly ride away on the bike.
Call 911. Bike theft is a crime, and since it’s happening in real time, it’s important to report it so the police can respond and try to stop the thief.
Your friend is riding their bike across the street, and a car lightly taps the bike. Your friend has a small bruise but says they feel fine.
Call 911. Even if your friend says they’re okay, being hit by a car can cause hidden injuries, and it’s important for medical professionals to assess the situation.
There’s a tornado warning in your area, but you haven’t seen a tornado, and everything looks calm outside.
Follow the safety instructions for tornado warnings, such as heading to a safe room or basement. Only call 911 if you see a tornado forming or if there’s damage afterward.
Your friend fell, and they are bleeding uncontrollably.
Call 911. While a small amount of blood can be controlled, losing a large amount can be dangerous.
After a storm, you see a downed power line outside your house. It’s sparking, but no flames are visible yet.
Call 911. Sparking power lines are a serious hazard that can quickly lead to fires, electrocution, or other emergencies. Even if there are no flames yet, it's important to call immediately.
You see two students arguing, and suddenly one of them pushes the other to the ground and starts hitting them.
Physical violence is a serious situation that needs immediate attention. While reporting to a teacher or school security is important, if someone is in danger of serious harm, calling 911 is necessary.
While walking home from school, you see a car swerve onto the sidewalk and almost hit a pedestrian. The car speeds away, but no one is hurt.
Don’t call 911 immediately, but report it. While no one was hurt, it’s important to report the reckless driver to authorities or school staff, as it could happen again.
After several days of heavy rain, water starts entering your home through the doors and windows, and the power has gone out.
Call 911. If the flooding is affecting your home and safety, it’s time to call for emergency assistance. Flood waters can rise quickly, and you may need help evacuating or getting to safety.
Your neighbor suddenly complains of numbness in their arm and is having trouble speaking. They are also confused and disoriented.
These are signs of a stroke. Call 911 immediately.
Your neighbors are having a bonfire in their backyard. The fire is large but contained within a fire pit, and they are keeping an eye on it.
Don’t call 911. As long as the fire is under control, contained, and there are no violations of fire safety regulations (like burn bans or unsafe conditions), it’s not an emergency. Only call if it becomes unsafe or threatens nearby structures.
You notice an adult who doesn’t seem to belong at your school or playground. They are watching students and acting strangely but haven’t done anything wrong yet.
Don’t call 911 immediately. Instead, inform a teacher or another trusted adult about the suspicious person. If the person behaves in a threatening way or tries to approach students, then 911 should be called.
You’re riding in the car with a family member when you witness another car crash into a tree. The driver looks hurt and isn’t getting out of the car.
Call 911. This is an emergency. The driver could be injured, and medical help is needed immediately. Stay away from the car, as there could be other dangers like leaking fuel.
During a thunderstorm, lightning strikes a transformer, sparks fly, and it creates a small fire. No one is near the electric pole, but the fire is starting to spread.
Call 911. Stay clear from any downed wires this may cause.