Cartersville Medical Center Offers Safe Sitter Course For Teens

From Cartersville Medical Center: Cartersville Medical Center has become a Registered Safe Sitter® Teaching Site and now offers the life and safety training program for young teens, grades 6-8 (ages 11-14). More than 600,000 graduates have completed Safe Sitter® at over 900 Teaching Sites across the country. Graduates learn how to prevent injuries and handle emergencies when home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.

Injuries are the leading cause of death in children up to age 5. Safe Sitter® aims to reduce the number of avoidable and unintentional deaths among children being cared for by young teen caretakers. The program follows American Heart Association standards for rescue skills and instruction in first aid techniques from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The nationally-recognized program was developed by pediatrician Dr. Patricia Keener after a colleague’s toddler choked to death while in the care of an adult sitter who didn’t know what to do. Students who complete a Safe Sitter® course gain confidence and learn how, why, and where injuries can happen so they can be prevented. They are taught infant and child choking rescue and CPR. They also learn how a child’s age affects the care they receive, how to prevent problem behavior, how to run their own babysitting business, and issues in online and cellphone safety.

Students who graduate from a Safe Sitter® course receive a completion card that demonstrates they know how to use their skills in situations they encounter.

Two sessions will be offered this summer; Saturday, June 17 and Saturday, July 15, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Lunch is provided and class participants will receive a student workbook/manual and SafeSitter cinch bag. The cost is $40 per participant. Space is limited and registration is required by calling MedLine at 1-800-242-5662.

For more information about SafeSitter at Cartersville Medical Center, contact Ginger Tyra, director of marketing and public relations, at 770-607-1017.

For more information about the Safe Sitter® organization, contact National Headquarters at 317.596.5001 or visit safesitter.org.

Image via Cartersville Medical Center