Miscellaneous Babysitting Tips

Water Safety

Danger lurks in water. Not water filled with eighteen foot great white sharks like Jaws, but water in swimming pools, wading pools, buckets, and toilets. Not just great depths of water like the ocean, but water as shallow as two inches deep.
This summer, more than 300 children under five will drown in a swimming pool. Fifty children under five will die from drowning in buckets that are left with water in them.

Drowning is a silent killer often no cry for help, no splash, and in the matter of minutes, the child drowns.
Drowning occurs quickly - 46% of drowning victims were missing only five minutes or less according to the people caring for them.
Half of all drowning victims who died in outside pools were thought to be inside the house by the person caring for them.
The most common victim of swimming pool drowning is a boy between one and three years of age.
Half of all drownings occur in June, July and August.
Half of all drownings in the summer occur on weekends.
The most common victim of a bucket drowning is a child from four months to two years left unattended.

Safe Sitter® has very clear rules about water safety. Whenever there is a child and water:

Never accept responsibility for allowing children to swim when you are babysitting. If parents have a pool, be sure all access to pool is blocked.
Never babysit at a home with a pool unless you are able to swim.
Never accept responsibility for giving a child a bath. Instead, suggest to parents that you will wash child's hands and face at bedtime.
Never accept the responsibility for allowing children to play in a wading pool when you are babysitting.
Never Leave A Child Unattended Around Water Remember that Safe Sitters don't take chances. You can find lots of safe and cool things to do this summer that don't involve playing in water. For instance, on a really hot day parents may let you supervise play with a water sprinkler or water guns. Sometimes, just holding a wet washcloth that has been in the refrigerator on the child's forehead or the back of the neck can cool them down. Shade, quiet activities, and lots of cool drinks are the best summertime hints for safe sitting.

SUMMER SAFETY RULES:

DID YOU KNOW that more children are injured in the summer than in other seasons? Please take a few minutes to review these tips.

NEVER let the children play in or get near swimming pools or wading pools.
NEVER let children play in or near the street. This is especially important because playing near the street could mean that a child might dart into the street before you could catch them.
NEVER let a child climb trees, skateboard or do other dangerous activities, even if they do these things when their parents are home.
NEVER light matches, fireworks or fires of any sort.
NEVER allow more than four children-including the ones you are watching-to gather in the yard. It is too hard to keep everyone safe. If you are caring for very young children, then don't allow any extras.
ALWAYS lock the doors and close the curtains when you go inside.
ALWAYS be cautious of stray dogs, strangers and groups of teenagers who hang around. Go in immediately if you are concerned about your safety and call an adult. If you feel truly threatened, call the police.

Have a happy, active and SAFE summer.

Hand Washing Tips

Wash before you eat.
Use soap
Dry your hands well and throw away used paper towels
Wash after playing outside
Wash after using the toilet, helping a child use the toilet, or changing a diaper
Wash after you sneeze or cough
Wash after you play with pets

Balloons Can Be Dangerous

A balloon that is blown up is not dangerous. A deflated balloon or pieces of a "popped" balloon are dangerous, because they are a choking hazard. Food objects (hot dogs, candies, nuts, and grapes) causing choking are much more common than non-food objects (toys, coins, pins, and tacks), but balloons are the most common cause of death from choking caused by a toy. Balloons are frequently given to children, especially at parties and/or holidays. Young children explore by putting things into their mouths. Choking may be caused by:

1. sucking a deflated balloon into the mouth while trying to blow up the balloon,

2. chewing on a deflated balloon,

3. biting into a balloon which breaks into pieces.

Any of these can cause death by choking. The material that balloons are made of makes the pieces especially hard to remove if they are sucked into the throat. Normal first aid procedures such as the Heimlich Maneuver are less likely to be successful than with other objects, such as food. You can protect the child and prevent tragedy if you follow these rules when babysitting.

1. Do not allow young children (infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers) to blow up or play with balloons

2. Older children (school age) should be watched carefully when playing with balloons.

3. Pick up and immediately discard pieces of a popped balloon.

4. Do not allow older children to chew or suck on balloons.

Since it is always better to prevent a tragedy than to "save" someone, Safe Sitters can truly keep a child safe from choking on balloons by keeping balloons away from young children.

Internet Safety

We want you to be safe - that's why SAFE is part of the Safe Sitter® name. Remember:

Don't ever use the Internet while babysitting.

Do always ask for and follow the parent's rules for using their computer.

Do not advertise you are available to babysit on the Internet.


	Miscellaneous