The Toronto Police Service has produced a wonderful PSA to help teach kids about 911. Children, by their very nature are inquisitive and full of wonder. The conversations that we have with them should in some way reflect all aspects of life, including the importance of such things as 911.

I'm not saying that the children should have full run of the household with things like the telephone, but I think they would be better served by being told exactly what the 911 operator is for and made aware that they can only be called in the case of an emergency.

The video put forth by the Toronto Police Service is a glowing example of how we should sit the children down and explain it too them.

The 911 service is designed to aid and assist both first responders; those who show up at our homes in the event of an emergency and also to try to weed out the calls that, "go nowhere."

Years ago, my nephew, who is now 18 years old, mistakenly dialed 911 and did not realize it. The 911 operator began asking if everything was okay. With no answer coming from the home, the operator dispatched the police and fire department. To say that my SIL was shocked to see all this commotion at her front door would be an understatement. What would have happened if something were really wrong in that home and no one responded to the call? I shudder to think of the implications.

The point to take from this is that it did what it was supposed to do. In the event of an emergency, get the emergency services out to the site quickly and efficiently. Timing is everything when people's lives are on the line.

I must applaud the Toronto Police Service for putting out this video, as I will be using it this evening with my own family to explain its' importance and when and how to use it properly. Would it hurt you to take five minutes out of your busy day to explain this situation to the little ones? You never know, it may just save your life someday.