911, what’s your emergency? In this ESL lesson, students will learn how to call 911 and identify possible reasons for calling in an emergency situation. Students will listen to a 911 call and discuss important things to do and remember in an emergency. Students will also learn and practice compound relative pronouns and learn and practice vocabulary and idioms relating to this topic. The lesson activities and worksheets have been developed for adult and teenage learners.

Lesson Objectives

To discuss the process of calling 911 and important things to remember in an emergency

To learn and review compound relative pronouns

To practice vocabulary and idioms relating to the topic

To develop speaking and listening skills

Audio

Listen to the audio of a 911 call between an operator and a young man who is in a park during an emergency situation. The young man might have to perform CPR on his friend if the ambulance does not race to arrive on time!

Audio Transcript SHOW

Vocabulary and Pronunciation

stop, drop, and roll [noun]: a simple fire safety technique taught to children, emergency personnel, and workers as part of health and safety training in North America and most other English-speaking countries

first aid kit [noun]: a set of materials and tools used for giving emergency treatment to a sick or injured person

first responder [noun]: a person (such as a police officer or an EMT) who is first to arrive at the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance

burglary [noun]: the act of breaking and entering a place to commit a crime

kidnapping [noun]: the illegal act of holding a person against their will, often including transportation

pepper spray [noun]: a type of disabling spray that causes irritation and blinding of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin

dead phone battery [noun]: a phone battery that has no more electricity

collapse [verb]: to fall abruptly and completely

unconscious [adjective]: not knowing or perceiving; not aware

pulse [noun]: a rhythmical beating, vibrating, or sounding caused by the heart

in safe hands [idiom]: means you are looked after by a reliable person, and there is no risk

on the line [idiom]: the act of speaking on the telephone

CPR [noun]: a medical treatment in which you breathe air into someone’s mouth and press on their chest to make them start breathing

Heimlich maneuver [noun]: a first aid procedure used to treat choking in which a person does chest thrusts to help clear the airway

hang on for dear life [idiom]: used when you are in a dangerous situation, and you need to grip something firmly, so you do not fall