Rescue Rex Program Teaches Nashville Kids 911 Safety

The 30-minute school sessions help children learn the vital steps to follow if a caregiver has a medical emergency.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Primary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of a yellow telephone receiver resting on an open blank notebook, representing children's emergency safety training. — Nashville dispatchers are teaching elementary students how to effectively place 911 calls to ensure they can seek help during medical emergencies. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you make it a priority to teach your young children how to call 911?

Nashville dispatchers are visiting local schools with a program called Rescue Rex to teach children how to correctly handle emergency 911 calls. The 30-minute sessions guide students in kindergarten through second grade on how to stay calm, state their location, and answer dispatcher questions.

Why it matters

Children may be the only people able to seek help if a caregiver experiences a sudden medical emergency at home. Teaching these skills is critical, as a 2021 study found that many young children struggle to successfully place 911 calls without prior preparation.

A 2021 study showed that while 80% of second and third graders recognized an emergency, only 20% actually placed a 911 call. Meanwhile, only 34% of parents report that they have actively practiced calling 911 with their children.

The players

Rescue Rex

An interactive emergency-preparedness program for young students operated by the Metro Nashville's Emergency Communications District.

Metro Nashville's Emergency Communications District

The local agency responsible for managing 911 dispatch operations and public safety education in Davidson County.

The details

The Rescue Rex program uses interactive songs and dancing to help young children memorize emergency procedures. During the lesson, students practice the essential steps of staying calm, providing their specific location to the operator, and clearly explaining the nature of the emergency. This preparation aims to bridge the gap between recognizing an emergency and taking the necessary action to contact dispatchers during a crisis.

2021: Pediatrics study on child emergency preparedness published.
January 2025: Program received recognition from PRSA.
January 25, 2026: Dispatchers received 8,007 calls during winter storm.
July 2026: Dispatchers received 4,503 calls during holiday weekend.
October 28, 2026: Rescue Rex visit to Gateway Elementary School.

The Home Front

This program aligns with findings from the 2021 Pediatrics study on child emergency preparedness regarding the limited ability of young students to navigate 911 systems. It marks a proactive local effort to increase household safety readiness by teaching children skills that were historically not practiced at home.

Parents should talk to their children about their home address and how to call 911 if they are ever left alone with a person who needs medical help. It is also helpful to practice these conversations regularly to ensure your children remain calm and can answer basic questions from a dispatcher.

The takeaway

Empowering children to act in an emergency requires consistent practice and clear, simple instructions. Parents should verify that their children know how to describe their home address to emergency operators and understand how to unlock a phone to make a call.