Program aims to train safer sitters

UMC teaches youth life-saving lessons

Stacey Sly brought her sons to the University Medical Center Family Resource Center's Safe Sitter class for selfish reasons.

The next time she leaves her sons Randy, 11, or Josh, 12, home alone with their younger siblings, she won't have to spend the time worrying. She let them baby-sit once before, but she was 5 minutes away, with cell phone in hand.

"Now I can be a little farther. Maybe 10," she said after watching her sons demonstrate infant cardio pulmonary resuscitation during their Safe Sitter graduation. "The more CPR or life-saving skills we have in our house, the better."

The two-day program takes 11- to 13-year-olds through rescue breathing, first aid and injury management as well as the fundamentals of baby-sitting as a business.

"I didn't know you did back blows or chest thrusts on babies," Randy Sly said.

"You'd think it would hurt babies because babies are fragile," added Josh Sly. "If you save a life, getting broken bones is better than death."

Before the class, Josh was a little nervous to stay home with his siblings. What if there were an emergency? What would he do if someone tried to break in?

"I was always worried," he said.

Students were taught to call a neighbor to check out trouble, then to dial 9-1-1 and get out of the house if the trouble was validated. "We learned about how if somebody broke in, how to deal with that," Josh said.

Students learned how to look out for their safety as well as the children they watch.

A parent signal, "I need to be picked up now," is a way for parent and child to have an understanding the baby-sitter doesn't feel safe riding home with their clients. Parents and their baby-sitting children can talk about why the signal was used after they are safe at home.

The Safe Sitter class originated more than 20 years ago at the Indiana School of Medicine, and is taught by registered Safe Sitter instructors nationwide and in Canada. There are more than 30,000 graduates.

Although Safe Sitter teaches young baby-sitters how to handle themselves on the job, parents are ultimately the deciding factor as to whether their child is ready for the responsibility, said Lisa Pacheco, program coordinator and registered nurse.

"They found this was the age where this material was given and accepted the best," Pacheco said. "Parents need to evaluate their child and see if they're capable of baby-sitting. They've been taught the skills to be safe, and they've demonstrated they know those skills."

Baby-sitting siblings is the hardest job, Pacheco said. But behavior control techniques taught during the class also come in handy with younger siblings. Parents are encouraged to reward their children for a baby-sitting job well done.

Students are encouraged to start their nonfamilial wage at $4 an hour.

"If they say $6 or $5, we're going to go with it," Randy said.

Upon graduation, students receive certificates and cards of completion they can carry to prove their baby-sitting education to potential clients. Students can refer to manuals and network for references on future jobs.

Pacheco says the class' motto, "Better sitters today, better parents tomorrow," also is insurance fewer children will go to the hospital from neglectful baby-sitters.

"For us, it's all about prevention," Pacheco said. "If we can teach a child how to take care of a child while they're baby-sitting, it's a child that doesn't come into the emergency room because they've fallen out of a tree or gotten into an electrical hazard."

Safe Sitter classes are offered free at the UMC Family Resource Center, 1120 Shadow Lane. Future classes will be offered Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21 and Aug. 5 and 6. Additional classes will be scheduled for August and September.

Those interested can call the UMC Family Resource Center at 383-2229 or visit the Web site at www.umc-cares.org.


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