In the United States, 911 is the phone number you call when you need help right away. As of November 2026, that is the number. A 911 emergency is when someone needs help right away because of an injury or an immediate danger. Firefighters, police officers and paramedics can come when you call.

You can call 911 if there is a fire. You can call if someone is choking, or if someone has trouble breathing. Not every problem is an emergency, though. A prank call can slow help for someone who needs it.

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 operator and answer their questions.

A working smoke alarm warns you early if there is a fire. If there is a fire at home, get outside first and then call 911. Get out, stay out and call for help. Never go back inside for anything or anyone. Do not stop to grab belongings or pets or to make a phone call while you are getting out.

Smoke rises. Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling, which is why you drop down and crawl low, under the smoke. Before you open a door, feel it. If it is hot, do not open it. Use another way out. A fire escape plan means knowing two ways out of every room. A family also picks a meeting place outside, so everyone knows where to find each other.

A tornado is a fast-spinning column of air that reaches from a thunderstorm down to the ground. Signs include a funnel-shaped cloud, a cloud of debris, or a loud roar like a freight train. A tornado warning means one has been sighted or shown by weather radar, so people should take shelter right away. Go to a small room with no windows on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.

In an earthquake, drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops. If you are inside, stay inside. Do not run outside, and do not stand in a doorway. If you are already outside, stay outside and move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines.

If a cut is bleeding, press a clean cloth on it. After the bleeding stops, wash the cut gently with soap and water. 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, and ask them to help you find your grown-up.

Some emergencies call for a different number. The Poison Help line is 1-800-222-1222. As of November 2026 it gives free, private advice from poison experts in the United States. Families can get ready before anything happens. An emergency supply kit holds water, a first aid kit, flashlights and a radio. A plan, a kit and a calm head are what help most when seconds count.

Words to know

• emergency: need help now
• operator: call answerer
• tornado: spinning storm
• smoke: fire's gray cloud