In the United States, 911 is the phone number you call when you need help right away. As of November 2026, a 911 emergency is when someone needs help right away because of an injury or an immediate danger. When you call, helpers such as firefighters, police officers and paramedics can come.
You can call 911 if there is a fire, if someone is choking, or if someone has trouble breathing, as of November 2026. Not every problem is a 911 emergency, though. A prank call, or any call that is not an emergency, can slow help for someone who needs it. Too many such calls can overload the 911 system.
Picture the call. The person who answers is a trained helper, and they ask what happened, where you are and who needs help. It is okay to trust the 911 operator and answer their questions. That is much easier if you know your home address and a grown-up's phone number by heart.
A working smoke alarm warns you early if there is a fire. Alarms go on every level of a home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test each one once a month by pushing the test button. The batteries are replaced twice a year, unless the alarm has a 10-year lithium battery, and the whole alarm is replaced every 10 years.
If there is a fire at home, get outside first and then call 911, as of November 2026. The rule is to 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, so you drop down and crawl low, under the smoke. Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling. Before you open a door, feel it. If it is hot, do not open it, and use another way out. Sleeping with the bedroom door closed is a fire safety tip, because a closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Practice a fire drill so you can find your way out in the dark, with your eyes closed.
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, in a small room with no windows on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast weather information all day and night.
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 outside, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines. In a car, pull over and stop, and set the parking brake. Smaller shakes called aftershocks can follow, so be ready to drop, cover and hold on again.
An emergency supply kit holds water, a first aid kit, flashlights and a radio. It should have at least one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. Nobody hopes to use a kit. The people who made it can face a bad day with a calm plan.
Words to know
- operator: call answerer
- aftershocks: later small shakes
- sanitation: keeping clean
- warning: danger alert
