Toddler calls 911 for “emergency donuts”—what happens next surprises everyone
Most parents expect their toddler to surprise them at some point. But one Oklahoma mom was caught completely off guard when her little one did the unexpected—he called 911.
Not for help. Not for an emergency. But for donuts.
A call for help… and sprinkles?
It all started when Bennett, a toddler from Moore, Oklahoma, got his hands on an old cell phone. He dialed 911 once, hung up, and then—perhaps realizing he had unfinished business—called back. This time, he had a very specific request.
“911, emergency donuts,” Bennett confidently told the dispatcher.
The dispatcher, staying professional but clearly amused, played along: “Donuts? I want donuts. Are you going to share your donuts?”
Bennett’s response? A firm “No, I’m not.”
And just like that, a viral moment was born.
Related: This mom went viral for calling 911 because she needed baby formula
Police officers show up with a sweet surprise
Instead of just laughing it off, the Moore Police Department decided to play along. The next day, officers showed up at Bennett’s home—with a box of donuts in hand.
“Well, we brought some donuts!” one officer told the thrilled little boy.
Bennett’s response? Pure joy. He grabbed a donut (blueberry, for those keeping track), grinned ear to ear, and enjoyed his surprise treat.
The moment was wholesome, hilarious, and instantly viral. But it also came with an important reminder for parents: Even old cell phones that no longer have service can still dial 911.
So before your kiddo makes their own donut-related emergency call, let’s talk about how to teach kids when—and how—to use 911 properly.
Related: Study shows a whopping 91% of children are unable to call 911
How to teach your child about 911 (without the donut confusion)
Knowing how to call 911 the right way is one of the most important life skills a child can learn. But with landlines disappearing from homes, calling for help isn’t as simple as it used to be.
“You never know when you’re going to get to a situation that you need help,” Candace Ochalik, a 911 operations supervisor and training supervisor in Virginia Beach, told WAVY. So, how do we make sure our kids are prepared?
1. Make sure they know their name, location, and the “when” of 911
Before they ever dial, kids need to know what to say. According to Ochalik, the first thing dispatchers ask is “What’s your location?”—but not all 911 centers can track a call’s exact spot. That means kids should be able to:
Say their full name.
Give their home address or describe their surroundings (if they’re not home, they can mention landmarks like a school or store).
Know what counts as an actual emergency. Fires? Yes. Someone is hurt? Yes. A missing toy? Definitely not.
2. Teach them how to dial 911 on your phone
Cell phones work differently than landlines, so kids need to know exactly how to access 911 on your device. Ochalik explains:
For iPhones (iPhone 8 and later): Kids should press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time to bring up the Emergency SOS slider. They can then swipe the slider to call 911.
For iPhones with a home button: Tap the “Emergency” button, then dial 911.
On Android phones: Many devices allow you to press the power button five times in quick succession to initiate an emergency call.
A quick trick for emergencies: “Hold in the power button and volume button at the same time,” says Ochalik. This will bring up the “Emergency SOS” tab, which automatically calls 911 when swiped.
3. Role-play, role-play, role-play
Just like fire drills, practicing a 911 call can help kids feel more confident in a real emergency. Here’s how:
Pretend to be the dispatcher and ask: “911, what’s your emergency?”
Have them practice responding with: “My name is [NAME]. I need help because [EXAMPLE EMERGENCY]. I’m at [ADDRESS].”
Remind them to stay on the line until help arrives—hanging up too soon can delay first responders.
4. Make sure they understand 911 is not for jokes
As funny as “emergency donuts” may be, prank calls tie up real emergency lines. Let kids know that dialing 911 as a joke could stop someone else from getting life-saving help.
5. Keep old cell phones out of reach
Did you know even disconnected cell phones can still call 911? That’s why Ochalik warns parents not to let kids play with old mobile phones. “Because old mobile phones are still able to call 911 even if they are not active with a wireless carrier, they should not be used as a toy,” she said.
The Bottom Line
Teaching kids to call 911 is one of the most important life skills they can learn. And the earlier, the better. So, let’s make sure they’re ready for real emergencies—and save the donut requests for breakfast.
