Interactive App Teaches Children How to Use 911
Skyline Technologies partnered with the Center for Childhood Safety (CCS) in Ashwaubenon to develop Kid’s Practice 911 Dialer – a free app that teaches children ages 4-9 how to properly use 911. Through educational videos and simulated recordings based on actual 911 operator scripts, children will learn how to have a conversation with emergency personnel about a stressful situation.
“If just one child is able to save a life by knowing how to call 911, then it’s done its job,” said Kimberly Hess, Executive Director of CCS.
The importance of this training app
For the last 20 years, CCS has run Safety Town – a weeklong summer camp that teaches safety skills to children ages 4-9. Part of the training was how to dial 911 with mock landline phones. Since children no longer know what landlines are, CCS asked 100 Women Who Care of Green Bay to help fund the training app. They awarded CCS a grant to build it; Skyline Technologies donated time and resources to build it; and Microsoft donated funds to help host and maintain it.
“I’m excited about it because it’s another way technology can improve lives,” said Mitch Weckop, CEO of Skyline Technologies. As the grandfather of a 3-year-old, he likes how the app provides an interactive way to help children use technology in a tough situation.
Features of the app
The app includes animated lessons, practice sessions, and a realistic phone dialer. Children make a simulated 911 call and can practice giving their address, the number they’re calling from, and clear details of their situation. The app evaluates the child’s accuracy and gives them feedback to help them improve.
Laura Schlieve, a Business Analyst for Skyline Technologies on the app project, tested it with her 7-year-old son, and it went well. He could easily watch and understand the instructional videos because they’re short and to the point.
The app also teaches children what is not an emergency – like losing their toy. “It was an eye-opener for my son because it’s an emergency to him,” Laura said. “I’m excited to see how the app can change lives and help the community.”
The app is available for download from Google Play and is coming soon to the App Store.
About the Center for Childhood Safety
For 26 years, the Center for Childhood Safety (centerforchildhoodsafety.org) has been a “vaccine” against accidental childhood injury. CCS’s mission is to be the leading source of safety education and programming in Northeast Wisconsin, dedicated to preventing and eliminating childhood injury.
About Skyline Technologies
Skyline Technologies (skylinetechnologies.com) is an associate-owned Microsoft Gold Partner with offices in Waukesha, Green Bay, and Appleton. Since 1992, Skyline has been helping organizations worldwide win with technology by delivering improved business performance through increased customer engagement, data driven insights, and transformative products and services.