Students in Moldova start their autumn break. Authorities issue safety advice
Students in the Republic of Moldova are entering their autumn break, which will last from October 27 to November 2. During this period, children will spend more time at home, often without adult supervision. For this reason, it is important for students to know what to do in case of danger and, especially, how to correctly use the emergency number 112.
The General Inspectorate of Police urges children to avoid talking to strangers, in real life or online, to respect traffic rules and to immediately call 112 in case of danger.
At the same time, parents are encouraged to talk to them about safety and to monitor them so that they know where and with whom their children are.
A quick call accompanied by a clear message can save lives, the representatives of the 112 Service also say. If communication is easier for an adult, a child must be trained how to talk to the operators. When a child calls 112, the most important thing is to be calm and answer the questions on the other end of the line clearly, explains Ion Munteanu, an employee of the 112 Service.
*“We listen carefully to the operator’s questions. The calmer we remain, the faster and more efficient the operator is in helping you,” the employee of the Single Emergency Service mentioned on the “Zi de Zi” show on Radio Moldova.
He emphasized that the person calling must provide the exact address, describe what happened, mention the phone number and say how many people need help: *“This way, the operator will be able to quickly direct the case to the right crew – police, ambulance or fire department.”
At the same time, children need to understand that fake calls can put lives at risk.
“If, for example, you call and make a joke on the phone, but at that moment something serious could happen to your parents or friends, while the operator is talking to the person making the fake call, someone else could need urgent help,” explained Tatiana Untilă, representative of the 112 Service, in an interview with journalist Svetlana Bogatu.
The same source mentioned that every second counts in critical cases – from cardiac arrest and severe bleeding to fires or serious accidents.
The director of the 112 Service, Anatolie Viniciuc, stated on the public radio station that educational actions in recent months have already led to a reduction in unjustified calls.
"At the end of 2024, there were 7,000 calls in 24 hours, and now there are only 6,000. Every fifth call was made by children, but the trainings have started to yield results," said Viniciuc.
He presented the example of a child who, through a phone call, managed to save the life of his electrocuted brother, thanks to the knowledge acquired during these trainings.
This week, three institutions joined forces and launched a national campaign titled "Do you know what your child is doing at home now?". The Single Emergency Service, the General Inspectorate for Emergencies and UNICEF Moldova will jointly carry out educational actions to train children in responsible behavior in emergencies, such as earthquakes, fires or other dangerous situations.
