By Stephanie Hacke, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Original publication date: March 17, 2011

Allegheny County, Pa. — Emma Mahathey knew exactly what to do when her mother suffered an injury falling down a flight of stairs: Remain calm and call 911.

The McClellan Elementary School second-grader stayed composed as she answered questions from 911 dispatcher Lee Silnutzer. She provided her address, phone number, name and a detailed description of the incident.

“She was walking down and she had a big pile of stuff and she couldn’t see,” Emma said on her call to 911.

Listening to instructions also was important. Help was on its way, but there were things Emma could do to stabilize the situation before responders arrived, and Silnutzer talked her through the details.

While the situation was make-believe, the lesson was real.

Students at McClellan Elementary School last week were asked to formulate scenarios where they might need assistance from police, fire or emergency services. Then, they were given the chance to practice making a 911 call for help.

The training was part of the public awareness education program offered by the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services to provide students with a better understanding of when they should call 911 and how to handle an emergency situation.

The program, complete with a mobile training unit provided by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office, gives students the chance to rehearse what they would do in an emergency and practice answering questions from a 911 telecommunications officer.

“The problem is that kids don’t get enough practice, and they’ve never done it before, so it’s scary for them,” Silnutzer said.

This is the first year the West Jefferson Hills School District is participating in 911 training. All elementary students in the district will be trained within the next two months.The program began at McClellan Elementary School last week.

But the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services has been offering the program for years, officials said. Ten staffers work in regions across the county to train students and adults about using 911.

If at home, the students learned they should call for help from a landline instead of a cell phone, because the home phone will provide 911 officials with an address.

“If you don’t know your address, can I get you help there?” Silnutzer asked.

Knowing their home address is important, the instructors told the second-graders.

And after calling for help once, it’s OK to call back.

“Every time the situation changes, call 911 back,” Petty said. “You can call 911 as many times as you want.” 

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