• you can't find your favorite toy or your homework from last night
• your cat got into a fight with another cat
• your brother or your friend dares you to call
• you have a nasty hangnail

Never call 911 as a joke or just to see what might happen. When the emergency dispatcher has to take the time to talk to people who don't have a real emergency, other people who call and do need help right away might have to wait.

The only time you should call 911 is if a person is badly hurt or in danger right now!

• Can you call 911 if there's been a car accident? Yes!
• Should you call if you see a crime, like someone hurting someone else or breaking into a person's house? Of course!
• What if someone suddenly seems very sick and is having a hard time speaking or breathing or turns blue? Call right away!
• What if someone collapses or passes out? Absolutely call!
• What if someone's house is on fire? Definitely call!

Talk to your parents or another adult about when you should call 911. If you're not sure whether there's a real emergency and there are no adults around, it's a good idea to make the call. You could save someone's life.