Coffeyville Regional Medical Center
Press Release

1400 West 4th Street | Coffeyville, KS 67337 | Fax 620-252-1609

CRMC Offers Safe Sitter Class
July 14-15, 2010

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center is offering another Safe Sitter class on July 14-15, 2010. The Safe Sitter program is a medically accurate instructional program which includes basic information on babysitting, first aid instruction, behavior management, and child development facts for children ages infant to school age. The class is intended for both boys and girls 11 to 13 years old, who are interested in babysitting. The curriculum is extremely active and hands-on and features babysitting scenarios as a way for the participants to learn how to react to problems they may encounter while sitting with a child.

A large segment of the program concentrates on Infant and Child CPR and Choking Rescue. Round table discussions are held to cover four aspects of babysitting: Nap/Night time; Eating; Activities and Toileting. They receive information on child development and age appropriate activities.

Another large component of the program is centered on safety for the sitter. Sitters are trained to check all references before accepting a job to protect them from going to a strange home. They are taught to ask the important information they need when babysitting at someone else's home in case of the need to contact either EMS, an available adult to help, or how to contact the parents if needed. They learn safety and security precautions, such as what to do if a stranger comes to the door and when and how to call for help.

The goal of Safe Sitter is to prepare young adolescents for the responsibilities of nurturing and protecting children, and to reduce the number of accidental and preventable deaths among children being cared for by babysitters.

CRMC has offered Safe Sitter classes for the past 15 years. A new class of Safe Sitters graduated the first of June. “The class has been so popular that we were asked to do another,” said Cathy Thompson who is one of the nurse instructors. The cost of the program is $30. If you would like to enroll your child, or if you need further information, please call Cathy Thompson at 620-252-1627.

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