Last year, as 6-year-old Cole Steffens' father administered a modified Heimlich maneuver to his 17-month-old daughter Bailey, young Cole calmly called 911.

He told the dispatcher his address, spelled his last name and said his baby sister was choking on a pretzel.

"It was kinda scary for my whole body," said the little hero, "but it wasn't really scary for my head or my brain."

That's a tale that fills the heart with joy and hope.

Dr. Oz believes that sharing such stories inspires others to help save lives and increases the flow of a loving spirit that's so essential for good health and happiness.

Could you stay as cool as Cole in an emergency? It's tough when adrenalin is cruising through your bloodstream!

So here's our rundown of the basic rules. Then you and yours can have as happy an outcome as Bailey, whose father dislodged the pretzel before rescuers arrived (very lucky, because 10,000 kids a year end up in the emergency room from choking-related injuries)!

-Make learning how to call 911 a family activity; rehearse it until everyone is comfortable.

-In an emergency, dial 911 and give your name, spell it and say the location of the emergency.

-Describe the emergency: first the injury or danger, then any perpetrators, if involved.

-Do not hang up until you're told it's OK to do so.

-Open your front door or send someone, if available, to flag down responders.

© 2014 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.