My child called 999 by mistake: what should I do?

"999 is, after all, a number lots of children get to know from playing police/ambulance/fire engine type games and we'd taught it to her as a useful one to ring in an emergency. Plus it's super-easy easy to dial ?

"I got a polite but stern telling off, and was asked to make sure my child wasn't left alone in a room with a phone - or that the phone was locked so no unnecessary calls could be made.

"I felt so guilty - it's never happened since!"

So what should you do if your child has called the emergency services by accident?

Advice on Lancashire Constabulary's website - which we're guessing will be pretty similar cross the board - is that if your child has called 999 and you're still on the line to them, stay on and speak to the operator, and explain there and then what's happened.

If the line's gone dead and you're no longer connected, it will be recorded as a 'silent call' and you'll get a call back.

That'll be your chance to explain it was a mistake call and will mean you don't get an unexpected police visit.

Will the police come round if your child calls 999 by mistake?

Yep, fact is, it might not just be a call you get if your toddler phones 999 by mistake and you don't let them know it was an accident. Mum Claire B reveals:

"My daughter was about 2 and a half. She'd been playing with the phone, I put it back she went and played in the garden and I thought nothing of it. Until the 2 police knocked at the door.

"I wondered what had happened and then twigged. I was so embarrassed and apologetic. It's very reassuring that they check though!"

And then there's this story from Louise H:

"I was getting my children ready for school one morning when 2 policemen suddenly appeared in the living room.

"I insisted we'd not called 999 then spotted the phone hanging off the hook. It's very good that they check but I felt very guilty." ?

And Sharon B told us when her child did it, they were left with "3 police cars and a very angry mum lol".

So, there you have it. Whether by design or accident, toddlers are pretty handy at dialling 999... so, if you've realised they've done it, try and stay on the line and let the operator know, otherwise, answer the call-back you'll get.

Although, the best option of course is to not let them get to your phone in the first place - but if it happens, don't feel too guilty - we've all been there or somewhere similar.

Images: Getty Images

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