A midnight ER trip made one mom train her 4-year-old in emergency responses. It backfired spectacularly

Kids are often excited to put their newly learned skills to use. On May 15, 2026, Sanaa (@sanaa.aesha), a mother with a 12-year-old son, Eesa, shared an incident that happened 8 years ago, which made her son look forward to her "dying," but in a loving way. Eesa dropped a chocolate ice cream, causing an accident that made his mother slip and hurt her neck. Sanaa had to drive herself to the ER in the middle of the night to get medical help. This accident prompted Sanaa to teach her son emergency protocols, just in case anything happened. However, it worked a little too well. The post has received 17,600 likes and 298 comments so far.

Looking for emergencies

Sanaa trained 4-year-old Eesa for a week, teaching him certain emergency procedures. She taught him how to unlock the front door, use the elevator, who to contact in case of an emergency, and how to speak to the security guard in Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil. However, she did not expect the impact the training would have on him. He was 'thrilled,' Sanaa wrote. He wanted an emergency to occur so he could use the skills he learned. Since Sanaa was clumsy, Eesa often had to run into the room to help her, anticipating an emergency. He would be cautious if his mother spent a little longer in the bathroom, and was looking out for her even while playing hide-and-seek. This went on for years. 

A dangerous 'ninja phase'

However, after weeks with no accidents, he was disappointed. At the age of seven, Sanaa called it his "ninja phase." Instead of looking or waiting for emergencies, he started creating them. He would place a string across the doorway, put blocks behind the door, and place obstacles in the house, just so he could make use of his training. Now, it was Sanaa's turn to train. She wrote, "I spent the next few years in training. For my own life." Thankfully, now, at age 14, her son has grown out of his ninja phase. She said he is "too cool to care" and "too busy to notice," adding, "My neck has never felt better."

13.4% of home accidents involve 'pillows'

While Sanaa may have been a little clumsy, the real issue could have been how many everyday accidents happen inside the home. People often think that their houses are safer than being outside. A 2019 survey revealed that 77% of Americans believe that their homes are safe, when, in fact, 75% of preventable accidents happen in the house.

Additionally, a 2024 study done by the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 8,323,133 injuries were related to commonly used items in the house. 37.2% of the injuries were related to stairs, landings, and floors. 13.4% were linked to beds, mattresses, and pillows. Chairs, sofas, and sofa beds accounted for 9.1% of household accidents, and 7.9% were bathroom-related items, such as bathtubs and showers.

Mothers respond

People enjoyed Sanaa's story in the comments, and several mothers shared their own stories as well. @hayley_dw commented, "Mum to a 14-year-old boy who, when much smaller, used to set traps 'like on spooky doo' with wool and toilet roll towers. I regretted the day he watched Home Alone." @sowmyanair added, "Well, you can’t blame him. He needs practical experience to test his knowledge."

You can follow Sanaa (@sanaa.aesha) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.

More on Scoop Upworthy

Mom shares hilarious imitation of her 3-year-old and it's an accurate portrayal of every toddler

Mom shares all the hilarious reasons why her 4-year-old daughter got upset with her

Mother's soothing poem for fellow parents who have 'wild' kids speaks volumes