First graders at Fair Haven’s Sickles School were recently taught a potentially life-saving lesson, thanks to the efforts of three community volunteers.

On Sept. 17, Beverly Cochrane-Maguire and Richard Eisenbeis, both of the Volunteers In Sheriff’s Community Programs (VISCOMP) at the Monmouth County Police Academy, visited the elementary school classrooms along with county Sheriff’s Office intern Chris Wolcott to instruct students in what’s dubbed Seek 911 protocol.

The students were taught:

• how to decide if a situation warrants a 911 emergency call;
• different types of emergencies (fire, medical, and police);
• types of phones that can be used to call 911;
• and the questions that will be asked by a 911 operator.

The students viewed a short video and then placed practice 911 calls with the assistance of the volunteers.

— Edited release from the Fair Haven School District