When our children are young, we teach them about stranger danger and equip them with vital information such as their home address and parents’ phone numbers. We strive to keep them safe and educate them on how to call for help in emergencies. But what happens as they grow older? As they venture into the online world, they encounter a new range of potential emergencies that require awareness. A prime example is 13-year-old Ethan Miller from New Hampshire.
One ordinary afternoon, while scrolling through TikTok, Ethan tuned into a live stream from a boy he frequently follows. Meanwhile, over 800 miles away in West Virginia, Jake Thompson was enjoying a ride. Both boys share a passion for hunting, fishing, and off-roading. Just moments into the livestream, Ethan sensed something was amiss.
“Suddenly, the screen went blank, and I could just hear him yelling for help,” Ethan recounted in an interview with WMUR-TV. Jake’s all-terrain vehicle had crashed, trapping him underneath. As he struggled, Jake called out his grandparents’ phone number, the only one he could remember at that moment. Recognizing the urgency, Ethan sprang into action. He contacted Jake’s grandparents, and within 20 minutes, Jake’s parents were able to locate him and lift the ATV off of him. He emerged with only minor injuries.
“Ethan acted swiftly and informed adults, just as we have taught him,” said Ethan’s stepfather, Police Chief Mark Anderson of Gilmanton, NH. “When he couldn’t reach Jake, he realized something was seriously wrong.” Both Ethan’s mother and stepfather expressed immense pride in his calm response.
This isn’t the first time a teen has intervened from afar to save a life. In 2020, a gamer from Texas helped a friend in England after he suffered a seizure while gaming. This kind of bravery and intuition is what we hope to instill in our children.
While there are uplifting stories, we’ve also encountered tragic cases where children have harmed themselves during live streams. Parents need to prepare their kids for these realities and equip them with the right skills for emergencies. TeensHealth offers some helpful tips:
- Stay Calm: In any emergency, it’s crucial to remain as composed as possible. Although it can be challenging, staying calm enables better decision-making.
- Assess The Situation: Determine if the person can communicate. Do they have a means to contact a trusted adult or emergency services? Gather any information about their location to send help effectively.
- Act Quickly: If you can reach the person’s parents or another trusted adult, do so immediately. If that’s not possible, call 911. Remember, emergency calls should always be taken seriously.
- Gather Details: If contacting emergency services, be prepared to provide essential information: who is involved, what happened, where and when it occurred. This detail can expedite help.
- Seek Help from Trusted Adults: After reaching out to emergency services, find a trusted adult to share your experience and receive support during this stressful time.
Kids today are increasingly immersed in social media. A report from CNN noted that children spend, on average, seven hours a day on screens, not including their schoolwork. This number likely increased during the pandemic. While we hope for positive online experiences, that’s not always the reality.
In a distressing incident reported by WWL in January 2021, four young girls from Louisiana were charged with murder after a violent crime that was live-streamed. Such occurrences accentuate the need for proactive parenting. It’s essential to teach children to be proactive helpers rather than bystanders.
What would your child do in an emergency? The Bystander Effect can hinder individuals from acting when others are present. The more bystanders there are, the less likely any one person will intervene. Teaching our kids to respond promptly and not to hesitate—whether in person or online—can make a vital difference.
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In summary, the story of Ethan Miller and Jake Thompson demonstrates the importance of quick thinking and action in emergencies, especially in a digital age where help can come from miles away. By equipping children with the right skills, we empower them to respond effectively in critical situations.