Eight-year-old Ryan Crosby from Madison called 911 because he needed help with his math homework. His mother had always told him not to hesitate to call 911 if he needed help. When the dispatcher answered, Ryan said he was alone and struggling with a math problem. Worried that Ryan was home alone late at night, the dispatcher stayed on the line, tracked his location, and sent police to his house.
When officers arrived, they found Ryan had been alone since returning from school, with no adults around. Attempts to reach his mother, Matilda, failed because her phone was switched off. Concerned, the police used her phone’s last known location and, with the help of a K9 team, found Matilda unconscious in her car on a remote road. She had passed out from heat exhaustion and couldn’t call for help.
Emergency responders rushed Matilda to the hospital, where she regained consciousness. She explained she had taken a shortcut while visiting her sister, fainted due to the heat, and had a dead phone battery. Doctors said she survived because a car window was left open. Police told her that Ryan’s 911 call was crucial in saving her life.
This story highlights the importance of teaching children when and how to call 911 during emergencies. Although Ryan called for homework help, his call led to authorities discovering a real emergency. It also shows how paying attention to children’s words can reveal critical situations.