Landline phones… you know what those are, right? The phones that you DON’T take everywhere with you? I hate to think that there are parents out there who didn’t grow up with a landline and think of that as ancient history. I went without a landline as an adult for approximately 8 years or so and I’m VERY happy to have one now for my own family. I don’t really use it, but it’s a necessity and I’m going to tell you why it should be a necessity for your household too.
Since becoming a parent, I’ve feared the possible emergency situations where my child would be left in the position to call 911 to get help. My cell phone is usually always around me, if not in my pocket. As my kids reach the age to learn 911, I reiterate over and over that if something were to happen to me, to look in my pocket for my phone or on a nearby table, etc. depending where I am if an emergency takes place. I can’t count how many times I’ve worried that I’d just collapse for some reason or another and my children wouldn’t be able to find my phone to call for help.
Growing up, it seemed like there was always something going on in my family – an injury or sudden health concern leading to one of us needing to call 911. This happened way too often. Fortunately for my children, they have not yet had an emergency situation where they needed to call for help. So far so good, but I’m not taking any chances. A few months ago we added a landline to our home. We really do not use it. It’s simply there for emergency situations. I stress less about possible future emergencies, knowing that the landline phone has a place in our home that the kids are aware of and can access easily. I have many reasons for adding a landline for my family’s safety, but they may not convince every parent that they need a landline in the home.
I recently partnered with Ooma, a leading Internet home phone service with reliable E911 technology. A shocking fact I learned from them, could be the deciding factor for YOU on whether or not to add a landline to your home.
In a ‘good’ emergency situation, the person calling 911 will know the address and the 911 operator will know just where to send help. But, did you know that in some areas only 10% of calls from cell phones are routed to the right 911 office and are easily traceable? That is a shocking percentage and very scary to me as a mom.
My landline is definitely here to stay!
Here are some additional tips from Ooma to keep your family safe:
Whether it’s for a small scrape or something far worse, it’s always a good idea to have a first aid kit handy. People who call 911 from their cell phone are often surprised at how long emergency workers take to arrive on scene. According to the recent Ooma.com 911 Emergency Response Study, more than one in five cell phone callers feel it takes too long—that’s seven times higher than for people who call from a landline. If you’re often in situations when only a cell phone is available, consider keeping a first aid kit nearby.
TIP #2: WRITE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST
Make sure that no matter where you are, it’s easy for the people around you to call your emergency contacts. Consider posting your own number, as well as first response numbers, on your fridge so your kids know how to reach you and your family, family members who live close by, or the authorities. Post the name and number of a trusted friend or neighbor, too. With Ooma’s home phone system, up to three of these contacts can be notified by text message automatically when a 911 call is placed. In situations when every second counts, this reliable Internet-based technology could save tens of thousands of lives.
TIP #3: RECOGNIZE THE FIRST SIGNS OF DANGER
Educate your kids about the sights, smells, and sounds of danger. If they hear a smoke alarm or see an appliance overheating, advise your children to get outside as quickly as possible. Planning an exit strategy is key to getting a safe distance away from the house so you can alert a neighbor and have them call the fire department. Consider making a detailed fire plan with multiple escape routes and keeping a printed copy of your fire plan on visible walls around your house.
Got any 911 emergency stories of your own? If you’ve got a story you’d feel comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear about them!
We cancelled our landline years ago to save money and don’t really talk on the phone at home so don’t miss it but I never thought about kids having to find a phone in an emergency. Good pt!