2torial #0865:
Learn2 Be a Good Babysitter (continued)

Stay safe

Keeping the kids safe is part of everything else you do with them. Mostly, this means staying aware of where they are, especially near streets and in public places. Above all, never leave children alone near water, even if it's just for two seconds and there's hardly any water. Kids can drown in buckets or toilets as well as in swimming pools or bathtubs.

Medical emergencies. If you take a class in first aid and CPR, you'll be better equipped than most adults to handle injuries. If you don't take a class, get a book and learn how to deal with some of the most common medical emergencies kids experience, including:

• Animal bites

• Choking

• Major cuts and burns

• Poison

• Sprains and fractures

You should also know how to deal with smaller problems, like insect bites, splinters, vomiting, bloody noses, and minor cuts and burns.

Disaster. If a fire breaks out, get the kids and yourself out of the house immediately. Don't stop to use the phone, but call the fire department from a neighbor's house. If an earthquake, tornado, or other natural disaster happens, keep calm and take the children with you to a safe place.

Security. Unless the parents have told you someone is expected and it's OK to let them in, don't open the door to anyone. Try not to let phone callers know you're alone in the house with the children. Outside the house, be cautious around strangers.

The chances that a child you're watching will get injured or dangerously ill are small. Fires, natural disasters, or break-ins are even more unlikely. Don't worry too much about these things, but be prepared. If they do happen, stay calm. You'll be able to think better if you don't panic, and the kids need to feel you're in control (even if you don't feel you are).

Your safety. On the job or off, your safety is as important as the kids'. Don't go home alone after dark, even if it's a fairly short walk. If a parent comes home drunk, don't accept a ride. Call your parents and ask them to pick you up.

Don't ever be afraid to call for help if you think you need it. The kids' parents and neighbors, your parents, fire and police squads, and hospitals and doctors are all interested in the same thing: keeping you and the kids you're caring for safe, sound, and happy.

Finally, don't let the responsibility of babysitting overshadow the fun parts. The more you babysit, the better you'll get at it. And if you're reliable but still know how to play, parents and kids alike will love you from the start.

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