When you need help in an emergency, you can call a special phone number called 911. When you call 911, you will speak to someone who will ask you what happened and where you are. They will send someone to help you, like firefighters or police officers.
Sometimes, in an emergency, you might not be able to talk or speak very loudly. This could happen if someone is hurting you, for example. That's why the 911 tapping protocol was created.
The tapping protocol is a way for people who can't talk to let the 911 operator know they need help. If you can't talk or speak loudly, you can tap the phone. The 911 operator will hear the tapping and know you need help. They will ask you yes or no questions that you can answer by tapping the phone. For example, they might ask you if you need help and you can answer "yes" by tapping your phone once.
The tapping protocol is very important because it helps people who are in danger or need help but can't talk to let 911 operators know they need help. It's important to remember that if you can talk and speak loudly, you should always do that when you call 911. Tapping the phone should only be used if you can't talk to the operator.