| On YouTube and other video-sharing networks, | | | | they call it for any other purpose, the operator |
| there is currently a hilarious video being circulated. | | | | will consider it a prank. Consequently, depending on |
| Known as "911 Math Homework," the video | | | | the child's age and the extent of the prank, they |
| shows a child apparently calling 911 to get help on | | | | or their parents could get into legal trouble. |
| some math problems. The operator obliges and | | | | Consider a recent case of 7th graders getting |
| attempts to help the child with a subtraction | | | | arrested for prank 911 calls. They had falsely |
| problem. At the end of the video, the child is told | | | | reported a bomb scare at their middle school. The |
| to get off of the phone by his mother, who is | | | | police came out and cleared the building. They |
| furious that he called the police to get homework | | | | investigated the situation only to find nothing. The |
| help. | | | | teens now face criminal charges for their actions. |
| Now, on the surface, the 911 Math Homework | | | | True, this situation is more malicious than the 911 |
| video is a comical example of what happens when | | | | Math Homework video. However, it still symbolizes |
| a child misunderstands their parent's instructions. In | | | | how 911 is considered a joke among some |
| the video, the child is told to call someone to get | | | | children. This mindset must stop. Explain to your |
| help for his homework. He ends up calling 911, | | | | children that 911 is not a number for pranks. It is |
| probably because that was the only number he | | | | there to help assist people during life-threatening |
| knew. | | | | emergencies. Make them understand that if 911 is |
| However, there is another more serious side to | | | | inundated with fake calls, there is a chance that a |
| such a misunderstanding. Children need to know | | | | person could actually die from a real emergency. |
| that 911 is a number designed for emergencies. If | | | | |