SHERIFF’S OFFICE SETS NEW PARTICIPATION RECORD FOR SEEK 9-1-1

Children are learning how to call 9-1-1 at an early age with the help of public safety telecommunicators from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. SEEK (Sheriff’s Emergency Education for Kids) 9-1-1 teaches first grade students how to use the 9-1-1 emergency number properly.

On Tuesday, October 12, the program set a record by reaching the 35,000th participant mark at the Middletown Village School in Middletown Township. Sheriff Shaun Golden presented a plaque to the school’s principal Karen Zupancic in recognition of this achievement. “The importance of using the 9-1-1 emergency call-in number is vital to public safety,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “SEEK 9-1-1 teaches children how to get the help they need quickly, for their own safety and for their families.”

The SEEK 9-1-1 program, includes a fun video featuring animated characters and a catchy song reinforcing the central message. Instructors also provide a hands on interactive session using telephone simulators to role play various emergency scenarios. Scenarios include what happens when a child hangs up without speaking to a 9-1-1 telecommunicator, handling an injury, what to do if you are home alone and see a prowler and when it is not appropriate to call 9-1-1.

The Monmouth County 9-1-1 Communications Center serves 44 of the county’s 53 municipalities and receives more than 800 calls per day. Approximately 30 percent of the 9-1-1 calls received each year are wrong numbers, prank calls, hang ups or non emergencies. During the presentation, SEEK 9-1-1 instructors emphasize the appropriate times to call 9-1-1 and when other non emergency phone numbers should be used.

“We’re proud to make the SEEK 9-1-1 program available to our schools throughout Monmouth County since the Sheriff’s Office is committed to safety and youth education.” said Sheriff Golden. “