Pupils learn key points of making calls to 911

BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

TOYNETT HALL Adelphia School first-grader Emma Dronne practices making a 911 call during a program presented by the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. HOWELL - Emma Dronne, a first-grader at the Adelphia School, helped her classmate Scott Wetzel in a pretend emergency situation by showing him how to call 911. Emma gave the 911 operator who answered the call her name, age, address, telephone number and told the operator about her emergency.

As a result of special training provided by representatives of the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Emma was prepared to handle the difficult situation.

SEEK 911 is the Sheriff's Emergency Education for Kids program. It was created by Monmouth County Sheriff Joseph Oxley in 2002 to teach young people, specifically first-graders, the correct way to use 911, according to information provided on the Visit Monmouth County Internet Web site.

According to Sharon Princing, a senior public safety telecommunicator for the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, the SEEK program has instructed more than 25,000 children since it began almost five years ago.

SEEK is a 35-minute presentation that combines a lecture, a video and hands-on interaction using telephone simulators. It teaches the children how to correctly report fire, first aid and police emergencies. It also allows the pupils to safely act out what they should do in an emergency during the interactive component of the session.

Adelphia School counselor Ken Zelinski said the program, which is offered free by the sheriff's office, supports the overall safety prevention curriculum. It emphasizes to the children the importance of when to use 911 and when not to use it.

"It reminds our kids to be safe and teaches them what to do in situations that arise," Zelinski said.

First grade teacher Lois Muhaw said SEEK is "a real good refresher that teaches them to be safe, especially if they are by themselves."

According to Muhaw, the program reinforces the seriousness of 911 calls and "lets them know that dialing 911 should not be used as prank, but only at times when it is important."

According to Oxley, "The importance of using the 911 emergency number is vital to public safety. Children need to know how to get help quickly for their own safety and that of their family. SEEK 911 prepares children to make emergency calls and supplies the information that our telecommunicators need to send help."

SEEK is currently offered only to students at the first grade level. According to Princing, the earlier children learn these skills, the better.

"They need to know the importance of knowing their name, age, address and telephone number. This is an important time to teach them because they are at a critical learning age," Princing said.

According to Zelinski, the program has been brought to the Adelphia School for about four years. He said the teachers and children both enjoy it. He said teachers hope to continue to be able to present the program at the school for years to come.