Henderson hospital reaches out to help potential baby sitters

Ask any parent and they will tell you it's hard to find a good baby sitter today.

St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson is teaching 11- to 13-year-olds lifesaving and safety techniques needed for baby-sitting.

The hospital, which had similar programs in the past, is participating in its first "Safe Sitter Program," which is aligned with Safe Sitter Inc. of Indianapolis.

The program is designed to reduce the number of accidental and preventable deaths among children being watched by adolescent sitters.

"Through education, we as a health care profession hope to strengthen the confidence of the young members of the community in their ability to become responsible sitters," Therese Merrill, director of education, said.

The two-day class will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 28 and 29 at the Lorna J. Kesterson Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St., Henderson. Classes hold 16 students and there is a waiting list for next week's class.

Three certified instructors will explain child development skills, infant- rescue breathing, infant choking, feeding, toilet issues and appropriate responses to emergency situations.

"It will be interactive from the minute they walk in," Shauna Rogers, community education coordinator for the hospital, said. "There will be two tables going at once. We'll have mannequins, dolls and real-life scenarios. We'll also have a toddler guest and an infant guest so (the students will) know what they'll be dealing with."

The class will teach safety and security precautions as well as the business aspects of baby-sitting such as how to effectively inform employers of your fee. Rogers said the current rate for baby sitters is $3 to $5 an hour.

Graduates will receive a certificate. The students will be tested on the key concepts of baby-sitting and skills necessary to handle an emergency.

"Parents feel more at ease calling children who have attended a Safe Sitter class," Rogers said.

Rogers said the Safe Sitter program will run quarterly.

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