Activity 01
Making the Call: Emergency Role-Play
In pairs, one pupil acts as the caller and the other as the emergency operator. Using a toy phone or just pretending, the caller practises dialling 112/999 and clearly stating the problem, their location, and their name, using a prompt card for support.
Explain each step of the 'Say No, Get Away, Tell Someone' safety strategy.
Facilitation TipProvide a simple script or checklist to guide the caller and ensure they include all key information.
What to look forObserve pupils during the emergency call role-play, using a checklist to note if they state the emergency, location, and their name.
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Activity 02
Our Family Fire Escape Plan
Pupils are given a template to draw a floor plan of their home. They must map at least two escape routes from their bedroom and identify a safe family meeting point outside, which they should then discuss with their parents at home.
Identify a list of trusted adults you can talk to if you feel unsafe.
Facilitation TipFrame this as a collaborative homework task to complete with a parent or guardian to ensure real-world accuracy and family involvement.
What to look forPupils create an information poster titled 'What to Do in a Fire'. It should be assessed for correctly sequencing the key steps: Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999.
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Activity 03
Emergency Kit Investigators
In small groups, pupils brainstorm and list essential items for a family 'go-bag' or emergency kit. Each group presents their list to the class, justifying why each item is important for a situation like a power cut or evacuation.
Analyse a scenario and decide on the best course of action.
Facilitation TipUse categories like 'First Aid', 'Light', 'Communication', and 'Comfort' to help guide their brainstorming.
What to look forPupils complete a 'confidence scale' from 1 to 5, rating how prepared they feel to react in an emergency, both before and after the series of lessons.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Start by exploring what pupils already know about emergencies to gauge their current understanding. Use active methods like role-play and mapping to make the abstract concepts of 'emergency' and 'escape plan' concrete and personal. Always maintain a calm and reassuring tone, emphasising that these skills are for 'just in case' scenarios to help everyone stay safe.
By the end of these activities, pupils will be able to demonstrate how to make an emergency call in Ireland and can explain the critical steps for escaping a fire at home.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
You need credit or a SIM card in your mobile to call 999.
Emergency calls to 112 or 999 are always free and can be made from any mobile phone, even if it has no credit, no SIM card, or is locked.
You should hide under the bed or in a wardrobe if there's a fire.
You must never hide during a fire, as it makes it very difficult for firefighters to find you. The rule is 'Get Out, Stay Out, and Call 999'. If you can't get out, go to a room with a window, close the door, and signal for help.
Only grown-ups are allowed to call the emergency services.
Anyone, including children, can and should call for help if there is a real emergency. The operators are trained to speak with children and will help you.
Methods used in this brief