911 why they did it

At first, he thought it was a joke. Then my boss called and told me to get to the towers to photograph the crash. By this time, the city — from 14th Street to downtown — had been sealed to everybody except first responders.

We got as close as we could but were still some way from the towers. As we ran the 35 blocks, weaving in and out of the crowds, we stopped occasionally to photograph the chaos around us. After about 25 minutes, we were within a block of the towers and there, on a quiet corner between Park Place and West Broadway, I saw a policeman, looking up at the North Tower. There was nobody else around. I took a photo of him — capturing an image of that day that has been widely used since.

As I carried on walking towards the towers, a man in an FBI jacket passed me by. Shortly after, another in a Secret Service jacket walked past. I found it strange that they would be there for a plane crash. I turned around and started walking towards the West Side Highway, and as I was walking, I saw the first person jump. She was a Black woman, in a smart skirt and vest top.

I could see her clearly. It was like she was just floating. I picked up my camera and took a photo. He thought it was a piece of the building falling. But I was close enough to tell it was a person. I was so close I could see her face. If they're old enough to understand, also explain that the emergency dispatcher may give first-aid instructions before emergency workers arrive at the scene.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Talking About With Kids Everyone needs to know about calling in an emergency. When to Call Teach kids that a emergency is when someone needs help right away because of an injury or an immediate danger. For example, they should call if: there's a fire someone is unconscious after an accident, drinking too much, or an overdose of pills or drugs someone has trouble breathing, like during an asthma flare-up or seizure someone is choking they see a crime happening, like a break-in, mugging, etc.

Explain that the emergency operator will ask them what, where, and who questions such as: "What is the emergency? Other Things to Know About Make sure your kids understand that calling as a joke is a crime in many places. Every prank call or unnecessary call to can delay a response to someone who needs help. Kids should make sure they're safe before calling NEVER call as a joke or just to see what might happen. When the emergency operator has to take the time to talk to people who don't have a real emergency, other people who call and do need help right away might have to wait.

This is why dialing as a prank is a crime in many places. Also, make sure you are safe before you call If your home is on fire, for instance, leave the house before calling You can always call from someone else's house or from a cellphone.

Before an emergency happens, talk to your parents or another adult about when you should call