WakeMed Offers Safe Sitter Classes that Teach Future Babysitters to Handle Emergency Situations

July 6, 2009 - PRLog -- This summer WakeMed Health & Hospitals is offering Safe Sitter classes to prepare adolescents to become competent babysitters by teaching important tips for how to recognize and handle emergency situations.

The two day classes will teach future babysitters between ages 11-13 to handle various crises in the home; such as CPR for a choking child or infant and what to do in case of a fire or intrusion.  As well the classes aim to educate babysitters on basic first aid and safety while home alone; providing information for how to get immediate help and who to call in emergency situations.

“Safe Sitter is a great program for teens willing to learn responsible care for younger children.  Properly caring for smaller children and infants is an important duty and babysitters must be well trained to handle a range of emergency situations. ” WakeMed Safe Sitter Site Coordinator Bobbie Earnhardt stated, who has been teaching the classes at WakeMed for 13 years.

The course is offered through two-day classes at WakeMed Raleigh Campus or WakeMed Cary Hospital.  Classes will begin at 9:00am and end at 4:00pm and students are asked to bring their lunch on both days.  Upcoming classes include the following:
WakeMed Raleigh Campus:
•   July 13-14
•   July 28-29
•   August 17-18
WakeMed Cary Hospital:
•   July 13-14
•   August 6-7

The program is offered on a first come first serve basis and costs $50. To learn more about registering, please visit www.wakemed.com or contact the WakeMed Pediatric Child Life Program at (919) 350-8832.

# # #

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals
WakeMed Health & Hospitals, one of the first hospital systems in the country, is a private, not-for-profit health care organization based in Raleigh, N.C. The 804-bed system comprises a network of health care facilities throughout Wake and Johnston Counties, including: a Level I Trauma Center and tertiary referral hospital and rehabilitation hospital in Raleigh, a community hospital in Cary, comprehensive outpatient centers and freestanding emergency departments in North Raleigh and Apex, seven outpatient rehabilitation sites, two skilled-nursing and outpatient facilities, a 100+-physician multispecialty practice, and home health services. The system includes accredited Chest Pain Centers and Joint Commission-certified Stroke Center. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org.