Empowering Kids with Lifesaving Skills: Why Emergency Readiness Starts Early

When people think about lifesaving skills like CPR or calling 911, they imagine adults stepping in during an emergency. But in reality, children are often the closest people when something goes wrong at home with parents, siblings, or grandparents, at school, or in their neighborhoods. Teaching kids how to recognize an emergency and take action builds confidence, and it may save lives.

Emergency preparedness at an early age helps children move from feeling helpless to feeling empowered. Knowing how to dial 911, explain what’s happening, and follow instructions from a dispatcher can make all the difference in the critical minutes before help arrives.

A Stress-Free Approach to Lifesaving Skills

Renee Patterson, founder of Stress Free CPR, has dedicated her career to teaching lifesaving skills in a way that removes fear and builds confidence. Her mission is simple but powerful: help people of all ages respond effectively in emergencies without panic.

Renee brings decades of real-world experience to her training. She has served as a volunteer EMT in Prince George’s County, a 911 dispatcher, a CPR, AED, and First Aid instructor, and a mobile training center owner.

“As an EMT volunteer, I regularly arrived on scene and saw that most people didn’t know what to do in an emergency,” Renee explains. “As an instructor, I wanted to help people feel prepared to respond.”

A Family Rooted in Service

Service and commitment are woven into every part of Renee’s life. Her passion for emergency response and lifesaving education extends far beyond her own work. It’s a legacy she lives and leads every day.

Her son is proudly following in her footsteps, teaching CPR, AED, and First Aid to college students and continuing the family’s dedication to public safety and community education. Renee’s lifelong companion, retired from law enforcement, remains actively engaged in educating citizens on the critical steps to saving lives, proving that service does not end with retirement, it evolves.

Together, this family embodies a powerful commitment to protecting, educating, and empowering others. Their shared values of service, leadership, and compassion are reflected in both their careers and volunteer efforts, creating a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

When Experience Makes the Lesson Personal

Renee’s belief that kids should learn emergency skills early was shaped not only by her professional background, but also by personal experience. In one frightening moment, she had to step in when her young son was choking. In another, the roles were reversed.

“We were alone together, and if he hadn’t called 911, I’m not sure what would have happened,” Renee recalls, describing a time when she suffered a severe allergic reaction and her son, who was still very young, had to make the emergency call.

Drawing from both her professional background and personal life, Renee adds, “Being in the emergency response industry, a lot of times it’s the kids who make the call to 911.”

Those moments cemented her belief that “everybody should know the basics of how to react in an emergency, no matter how young they are.”

Why Kids Are Capable Emergency Responders

A common misconception is that children are too young to learn emergency response skills. In reality, they are often extremely capable.

“Kids follow directions and absorb concepts quickly,” Renee explains. “They are open to learning and mimicking the motions of CPR. They have fun with it, and training builds their confidence.”

She emphasizes that CPR doesn’t have to be complicated. “CPR is not hard, and kids can understand where to press and the importance of pressing hard and fast.”

Renee has witnessed firsthand just how capable children can be. During one 911 call, she recalls hearing a calm young voice take charge.

“The mother was panicking, and I could hear a little girl telling her to pass the phone to her,” Renee says. “When the little girl got on the line, she calmly told me their address and followed instructions.”

The child was just 11 years old, and her actions helped save her uncle’s life.

Learning Through Play Builds Confidence

To make emergency education approachable for young learners, Renee created a series of children’s coloring books that introduce the basics of calling 911, CPR, and First Aid. Designed with simple scenarios and relatable illustrations, the books help children see themselves as helpers.

Renee shares that kids who see the books often say to her, “Oh my gosh, they look like me,” or ask, “Is it really that easy?”

Renee would like the books to spark conversations and inspire families to take the next step. “The books open a door to the possibilities of learning what you can do in an emergency,” she says. “My hope is that they get parents and guardians to schedule a CPR class.”

Partnering With HSI to Make an Impact

Renee uses HSI CPR, AED, and First Aid programs to deliver high-quality, accessible training. She values the program content as well as HSI’s support for instructors.

“With HSI, I can purchase blended courses and use my custom Training Center portal to see my students’ progress,” she explains. “Reporting is simple, and it makes administrative tasks easier.”

HSI places a strong value on its authorized instructor community and training centers, recognizing their role in shaping effective emergency care education.

Anthony Corwin, General Manager of Emergency Care at HSI, shares, “We are proud to partner with HSI authorized instructors worldwide who are making a difference in their communities. Renee’s coloring books offer an important foundation for helping children learn how to safely and effectively help others in an emergency situation. Learning to dial 911 and talk to a dispatcher, as well as knowing the basics of CPR, could help them save a life.”

Preparing Kids Early for a Lifetime of Readiness

When emergency calls originate in the home, children are often present long before first responders arrive. Teaching kids emergency response skills isn’t about placing responsibility on them. Instead, it’s about giving them tools, confidence, and awareness to help if needed.

When children learn early on that they can help, they’re given the potential to become adults who are calm, prepared, and ready to act. And sometimes, those early lessons may mean the difference between tragedy and survival.

Because when it comes to lifesaving skills, you’re never too young to learn — and never too young to make a difference.

Coloring Books That Build Confidence & Lifesaving Skills

Designed and written by Renee Patterson, these children’s coloring books introduce emergency response concepts in a fun, stress-free, and age-appropriate way. Created from real-world experience, each book helps children feel prepared, capable, and confident while encouraging the next step towards full certification CPR, AED, and First Aid training.

The coloring books are ideal for:

• Gifts from grandparents invested in their grandchildren’s safety
• Classrooms and early learning programs
• Places of worship and recreation centers
• Community health and safety events

Learn the ABC’s of CPR & First Aid

Bilingual | Confidence-Building | Foundational Skills

Empower kids with lifesaving knowledge through this bilingual (English & Spanish) CPR and First Aid coloring book. With simple explanations and engaging activities, it introduces the basics of emergency care while building confidence and self-belief, preparing young learners for future hands-on training. Buy now.

Calling 911 with Confidence

Emergency Awareness | Calm Communication | Kid-Friendly

This interactive coloring book with a girl main character teaches children how to recognize emergencies and call 911 calmly and clearly. Through simple language and relatable illustrations, kids learn what information to share with a dispatcher and how to stay focused when it matters most. Buy now.

Marco Calls 911

Story-Based Learning | Reassuring | Empowering

A fun and engaging story that helps children understand what an emergency is, when to call 911, and how to speak clearly to get help fast. With reassuring guidance and colorful illustrations, Marco, the featured character, is a boy who helps kids feel brave, prepared, and capable. Buy Now.