In the United States, 911 is the number to call when you need help right away. This is true as of November 2026. It is for a true emergency. That means someone needs help right away because of an injury or an immediate danger. Not every problem is a 911 emergency. As of November 2026, you can call if there is a fire, if someone is choking, or if someone has trouble breathing.
When you call 911, helpers such as firefighters, police officers and paramedics can come. The person who answers is a trained helper. They ask what happened, where you are and who needs help. It is okay to trust the 911 operator and answer their questions. A prank call, or any call that is not an emergency, can slow help for someone who needs it.
It helps to know your home address and a grown-up's phone number by heart. Next comes a home fire plan. A smoke alarm warns you early if there is a fire. A fire escape plan means knowing two ways out of every room. A family picks a meeting place outside, so everyone knows where to find each other after getting out.
When there is a fire, smoke rises. Drop down and crawl low, under the smoke, to your way out. Before you open a door, feel it. If it is hot, do not open it. Use another way out. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll.
If there is a fire at home, get outside first. Then call 911, as of November 2026. In a home fire, get out, stay out and call for help. Never go back inside for anything or anyone. Do not hide from firefighters. They are helpers who want to find you.
In an earthquake, drop to your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck. Hold on until the shaking stops. Stay inside if you are inside. Do not run outside, and do not stand in a doorway.
A tornado is a fast-spinning column of air. It reaches from a thunderstorm down to the ground. A tornado warning means one has been sighted or shown by weather radar. People should take shelter right away. Go to a small room with no windows on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. An emergency supply kit holds water, a first aid kit, flashlights and a radio.
Some help is not for 911. The Poison Help line is 1-800-222-1222. As of November 2026, it gives free, confidential advice from poison experts in the United States. If you get lost, find a helper, such as a store worker or a parent with kids. Stay in the store or place where you are. Ask them to help you find your grown-up.
Words to know
- emergency: needs help now
- operator: 911 helper
- tornado: spinning storm
- earthquake: shaking ground
- prank: a joke call
The short version
In the United States, as of November 2026, 911 is the number you call when you need help right away, such as a fire, choking or trouble breathing. A trained helper asks what happened, where you are and who needs help. Know your address, make a fire escape plan, and test smoke alarms once a month.
Quick facts
- As of November 2026, 911 is the phone number to call in the United States when you need help right away.
- The 911 helper asks what happened, where you are and who needs help.
- A fire escape plan means knowing two ways out of every room.
- A smoke alarm warns you early if there is a fire.
- As of November 2026, the Poison Help line is 1-800-222-1222, with free advice from poison experts in the United States.
What should a child say when calling 911?
The person who answers is a trained helper. They ask what happened, where you are and who needs help. It is okay to trust the 911 operator and answer their questions. It helps to know your home address and a grown-up's phone number by heart.
What should a family do about fires at home?
Put smoke alarms on every level of a home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas, and test them once a month. Know two ways out of every room, pick a meeting place outside, and practice the plan at least two times a year.
