AS THE summer holidays approach Lookout Lion will be the ‘mane man’ to educate children across the West Midlands about what to do in an emergency.
In the short film, aimed at four to seven-year-olds, the colourful cartoon character witnesses a car crash outside his house but does he know which number to call, the location of the emergency and can he stay calm enough to ensure help gets there as soon as possible?
Viewers see Lookout Lion dial 999, remain calm to get the details across to the call handler and stay on the line until the emergency services arrive.
The friendly feline is the brainchild of West Midlands Ambulance Service which has launched the campaign in conjunction with Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The video ends with a message to parents about the importance of teaching children how to call 999 and the kind of things they can expect to be asked if doing so.
It is also hoped it will be used by schools as a way of educating children about the work of the emergency services and how they are there to help.
Jeremy Brown, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Emergency Operations Centre general manager, said:
“Obviously we hope young children are never in the position that they need to call 999, but sadly sometimes they are and it’s vital that they are prepared in order for us to arrange help as quickly as possible.
“Hopefully this video will go a long way to making children aware of what to expect, whilst also leading into further conversations with teachers and parents about what to do and when it is appropriate to ring 999.”
Parents are being urged to spend five minutes with their children, explaining how and when to call 999 and ensuring they know their address and postcode in case an emergency happens while they are at home.
