Raising children today or taking care of elderly parents, keeping emergency numbers and hotlines available at all time is imperative. Whether your teen or child comes home from school by themselves, or you live on your own, keeping these numbers up-to-date is critical to saving lives. Every minute counts if a child swallows a poisonous household product, every second counts if your child is a runaway or been abducted.
Here is a great list to start with and take the time to add more that may refer to you personally such as your emergency contacts:
- American Association for Poison Control 1-800-222-1222
- National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-286-2929
- Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255
- Children's Trust Line Parent Helpline 2-1-1
- Crime Stoppers Miami 1-866-471-8477
- Crime Stoppers Broward 1-866-493-8477
- Florida Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-500-1119
- Planned Parenthood - Teen Talk 1-800-230-7526
- Florida Gang Information (Dial 9-1-1 to report gang violence)
- Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1-800-962-2873
- Rape Crisis Hotline 1-888-956-7273
- National Victim Hotline 1-800-394-2255
- Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Youth Support Line 1-800-850-8078
- STOMP Out Bullying 1-888-347-5437
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Frequently Called Numbers by Broward Students and Parents
- Parents' Universal Resource Experts (Private Programs for Out-of-Control Teens)
- Peachford Communities (Programs for Adult Addicts wanting to get sober)
Above is a start and be sure to add your local sheriff's office as well as your emergency contacts.
School opens next week in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach County, put this on your list to do in order to prepare for a safe and healthy school year.
Be an educated parent, you will have healthier and safer teens.
Please add more emergency numbers and hotlines in comments - you may save a life!
Comments
I would add: It is also time to update, review and TEST your emergency communication procedures and paroles with your child so that they do not fall subject to being duped by a stranger.
Today I actually arrived at mid-life - 55 yrs so the philosophy of having communication and paroles isn't new - my parents had separate and private paroles for each of us and they tested it with us - both with those we knew and those we didn't - Do it - your child is too precious not to do so.
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