Family Guide to 3-Digit Helplines

Thank you to Kelly Plumbing for sponsoring this important guide! In 1928, Ernest Kelly and his wife Vivian founded Kelly Plumbing from their home in Monroe, LA. Because of Ernest’s plumbing skills, fair prices, and quality work, his plumbing business withstood through the 1930s and the Great Depression.

True to its roots, Kelly Plumbing still provides excellent plumbing skills, fair prices, and quality work. They are known throughout the area as one of the best plumbers in Monroe and West Monroe.

You can download a printable list of these numbers that also includes a blank area to add your personal emergency contact number. This is a perfect, easy-access list, for babysitters, pet sitters, etc.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLE EMERGENCY HELPLINE LIST

WHAT KIDS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A BURN BAN

In today's digital age, teaching your children about important 3-digit hotlines can be crucial in ensuring their safety. From emergencies to seeking immediate help, these hotlines are easy to remember and can be a lifeline for your child. Let's explore why it's important for your kids to know and understand these hotlines.

Below you will find a list of some important three-digit, easy-to-remember numbers reserved for emergencies, critical community services, safety, travel, and now mental health interventions. 

9-8-8

Recently launched, 9-8-8 is the newest of the 3-digit hotlines. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will operate and take calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the United States. The operation is comprised of a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources. There is hope that with this easy-to-remember number, more people will seek support when needed, and younger people, like teens, who sometimes prefer autonomy 9-8-8 will also have a texting feature. 

Empowering your teen with this information could be important. They might have a friend who isn't comfortable talking to anyone about a crisis they are going through, being able to offer this as a first step could be important. 

Mental health needs are very important to Macaroni Kid Monroe-West Monroe, and we ask that you help us share this new and critically important information. 

What does this mean for people in Louisiana who already had the prefix 988 in use?  Well, for those in the 337 or 504 area codes you must now dial the area code for all outgoing local calls also referred to as 10-digit dialing.  You can see the full report here. 

If you are a teacher, youth group leader, etc. the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana has an incredible program called SOS, Signs of Suicide. 

This is a secondary school-based suicide prevention program that includes screening and education. Students are screened for depression and suicide risk and referred for professional help as indicated.  Students learn to recognize signs of depression and suicide in themselves and others.  They are taught that the appropriate response to these signs is to use the ACT technique: acknowledge that there is a problem, let the person know you care, and tell a trusted adult.  Students also participate in guided classroom discussions about suicide and depression. The program attempts to increase knowledge about suicide and depression, develop desirable attitudes toward suicide and depression, and increase help-seeking behavior among youth. For more information, contact Jan Daniels, SOS program Director at JDaniels@childrenscoalition.org.

9-1-1

First began in 1968 when the first 911 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama by Alabama Speaker of the House, Rankin Fite. By March of 1973, the White House Office of Telecommunications issued a national policy statement that recognized the benefits of 9-1-1. This number is meant to access emergency services in our community. It automatically dispatches the police, fire truck, and ambulance to your location. 

If you need to report a non-emergency or situation that doesn't require the fire department or an ambulance such as a stolen bike, etc. you can call the police department directly.

City of Monroe Police Department
(318)329-2600

City of West Monroe Police Department
(318)396-4903

Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department
(318)329-1200

City of Monroe Fire Department
(318)329-2474

City of West Monroe Fire Department
(318)397-0758

Helpful Tips: The Monroe Fire Department offers "FREE" smoke alarms with installation to all City of Monroe residents. If you would like a smoke alarm installed in your home, contact our office at (318) 329-2437 or (318) 329-2475 to be scheduled for installation.

The City of West Monroe offers smoke alarms to citizens of West Monroe at no cost! Not only will we provide the smoke alarms, but we will also gladly come to install them for you as well.  If you would like to request a smoke alarm or schedule a time to have it installed, please call our administration office at (318) 397-0758.

Make sure your child knows their full name and address. If you are still using a landline telephone disconnecting it and allowing your child to practice dialing could be helpful. If you have a cellphone here are some helpful steps to teach your child how to dial 9-1-1. These helpful steps are provided by Verizon which also includes a cellphone Simulator Index. The Simulator will allow you to select your cellphone model and show step-by-step directions. Make sure, if you have a locked screen, that your child knows the password and can enter it. Some cell phones have an emergency feature that allows 911 to be called while the screen is locked. Make sure you are aware of your phone's specific emergency features and revisit this every time you get a new phone. 

Here is a video from About Kids Health, that could be helpful:

8-1-1 (It's the Law)

It is the homeowner's responsibility to make sure that they are safely digging and to do that, you must call 8-1-1 to locate and mark unseen utility or water lines. 

When you call or click to file a locate request, Louisiana 811 uses a sophisticated computerized mapping system to notify members whose facilities are likely to be affected by your excavation or demolition. Our members respond by marking their cables, pipelines, and similar systems so that you can avoid them. It is up to you to avoid them when you dig, and any necessary repairs or maintenance are also your responsibility.

If your gas meter, electric meter, or water meter is not installed directly on your building, you must take special care when excavating on your property. Many homes and offices have utility meters installed some distance away. If this is the case on your property, the lines from the meters to your structures are your responsibility. Even when utilities mark their lines near your work site, digging in unmarked areas can still be hazardous or cause service interruptions. Did you know that the average underground depth of a gas line is 24 inches? The most important thing to remember, you don't know what you don't know. 

There is no charge for this service.

7-1-1

Have you ever wondered how you can communicate, by phone, with someone who has difficulty hearing or speaking? The Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) enables standard voice telephone users to talk to people who have difficulty hearing or speaking on the telephone. You may know someone who would love this free telephone service! 

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) operators, called communications assistants, are always available. When you place a call through this free telephone service, a communications assistant will quickly convert the words you say into typed words, so
your friend who has difficulty hearing on the phone can read your words. Your friend can answer you verbally or type a response that a communications assistant reads to you. In order to communicate this way, your friend will need a phone used by persons with hearing and speech disabilities, called a TTY.

5-1-1

5-1-1 is Louisiana's official, easy-to-remember traveler information service. 5-1-1 provides continual updates about weather-related road conditions, road work, commercial vehicle restrictions, road closures, and other travel information via the phone, Internet, or free downloadable mobile app. FAQ About 5-1-1

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has an extensive list of services to offer that includes signing up for an account so you can enter specific routes you travel and get text alerts about road conditions, wrecks, construction, etc.

5-1-1 is made possible through the cooperation of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana State Police, and the Federal Highway Administration.

2-1-1

The number is for essential community services that are non-emergencies. In our community, 2-1-1 is operated by our local United Way of Northeast Louisiana. You can speak to someone 24/7 365 days a year. They also have an online searchable database that will allow you to access community resources.

We have to include a couple of numbers that are very important and while they are not 3 digits, they are a must:

National Poison Control Center

You can contact poison control for many reasons like identifying a pill, understanding how to read OTC drug labels, poison prevention, battery ingestion, and much more. Remember, act fast, and if the person collapses, seizes, can't breathe, or can't be awakened call 9-1-1. Help and FAQ
1(800)222-1222

Animal Poison Control Center

The ASPCA is the best resource for animal poison-related emergencies. They are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If your pet is unresponsive seek an emergency pet hospital or vet. Also, when you call the APCC, a consultation fee could apply. 

You will find the website contains helpful information about poisonous plants (with printable lists for dogs, cats, and horses), people foods to avoid, poisonous household products, and more.
1(800)426-4435

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