A child-friendly prevention programme by National Ambulance Service
“NA SZIA MENTŐ!” programme teaches children that they are never alone and that help always arrives.
Our information video:
The story of “NA SZIA MENTŐ!”
The phrase “Na szia, mentő!” was first spoken in 2025 by a four-year-old boy in a situation where real help was needed. When he could not wake his unwell mother, the resourceful child recognised that something was wrong and called for help. This simple and sincere greeting became the foundation of a new, child-friendly prevention programme launched by the National Ambulance Service.
This story is an important reminder for all parents: children can be taught what to do in an emergency even at a very young age. Trust children, and be proud of them.
A post published on our social media channels on December 14, 2025:
What does the “NA SZIA MENTŐ!” programme mean?
“NA SZIA MENTŐ!” programme launched by the National Ambulance Service is a child-friendly prevention initiative with the goal of making asking for help feel natural, reducing children’s fears related to ambulances, ensuring that children are not left alone in frightening situations, and making roles clear for everyone:
adults help, children speak up, ambulances save lives.
Why is it important to talk about this with children?
Children can sense when something is wrong, but it is not their task to solve the situation. The “NA SZIA MENTŐ!” programme reinforces a psychologically safe pattern:
- it is okay to notice something is wrong,
- it is good to speak up,
- deciding and acting are the responsibility of adults.
This approach supports not only children’s safety but also the speed and effectiveness of emergency care.
How do we speak to children?
Simply. Calmly. In child-friendly language. The “NA SZIA MENTŐ!” programme consciously avoids fear-based messaging, dramatic portrayals and shifting responsibility onto children. Ambulance staff appear in a friendly and reassuring role, adults are always present, and children are never left alone — neither in the story nor in its emotional processing.
Every element of the programme follows the same principle:
- the ambulance is your friend,
- the adult is present in solving the problem,
- the child is not alone.
