European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A a Mem him York Timai photo first course of Sta kind in toe United states trains baby to Ottav As knowledgeable a Ltd a re Given. Safe sitting by Janee. Brody new York times let s say you Are baby Silling Wilh 18-Monlh-old Anthony who White you Are watching television starts rummaging through  find him chewing on the last of he 10 aspirins you were carrying. What do you do or perhaps you Are watching 4-year-old Kathy play in the Yard. She is Slung by a Bee. Within moments her Arm swells dramatically and she starts having rouble breathing what do you do maybe you Are George s baby Sitter. While running through the House the 2-year-old Falls and comes to you screaming with blood running irom his nose. What do you do or your evening of baby silting has been uneventful but when your employers come Home you see they be had a lot to drink and they Are 1o drive you Home what do you do thousands of teen agers across the United states know How to handle such emergencies. These youngsters have completed a comprehensive two Day course known As Safe sitting. Initiated six years ago by or. Patricia Keener a paediatrician at the Community Hospital of Indianapolis inc program uses demonstrations of emergency techniques such As Rescue breathing. Practice dummies and Playa Ling to Leach youngsters How to recognize emergencies and Deal with them almost instinctively. The program teaches baby Sitters Aboul Normal child development what children of different Ages Are capable of and covers situations ranging from the common to he unusual irom a child scraping his knee to an infant swallowing a Sharp object Keener was prompted to act Aller a colleague s 18 Rno nth old baby choked to death while being cared Lor Page 16 the stars and stripes by an adult Sitter who did not know How to save him now. Iho paediatrician spends much of her time training instructors who Are then certified to conduct Safe sitting courses. The american Academy of paediatrics has endorsed 1he program As the first of its kind to properly train baby Sillers As knowledgeable child care  if the program can be criticized it is Lor is inability to meet the need Lor trained child care givers including grandparents or parents. While a newspaper column cannot duplicate the lessons of Keener s course there Are Many tips that can be put into immediate action to make people safer Sillers for the children they Walch and or themselves before parents leave make sure you obtain the following information the emergency Telephone number the name and number of a responsible neighbor who expects to be at Home where the parents will be. How they can be reached and when they expect to be Home along with to address and location of the House at which you Are Silling so that you can give directions to the House. Be sure to loll your own parents where you Are and when you expect to be Home. Ask about the children their routines and restrictions if they should be fed and what when to put them to bed whether they have special objects Hal give them comport such As a favorite Blanket or some comforting action such As being rocked and whether they have any serious allergies. Find out the child s stage of development can the infant Roll Over sit unsupported climb out of the crib. Crawl or walk keep in mind that infants older than 8 months Are Likely to cry when their parents leave but should Slop soon after. Determine your privileges and responsibilities. Don t raid the refrigerator or entertain friends unless invited to do so Friday june 27, 1986 while you should clean up any mess you or the children make you Are not obliged to clean House or Wash dishes. Ask if the parents Are expecting anyone to Call or come Over while you arc Sil Ling f ind out what should be done Wilh pets but Don l agree to walk a dog alter dark or at any Lime of Day unless you can Lake lha child Wil h you. Emergencies in a perfect world everyone would to trained in Basic life saving techniques such As Rescue b each tag and cardiopulmonary resuscitation before they arc left to care for others. In reality few people receive such training which requires professional instruction and hands on practice Wilh dummies still. Shore Are Basic procedures people can be Lold Aboul. So Lay know How to proceed if emergencies arise while they Aro baby Silling Tho Sale Silver program outlines Lour categories of emergency management cases in Iofi Ift emergency medical Kielp is needed because Jne child s me May be in danger. Consider those situations a in real to Tiff the child has trouble breathing because of immersion in Walcer electric Shock allergic reaction or choking the child has stopped breathing ins child has suffered severe blood toss toss of consciousness or a severe Burn or the child has ingested Poison and develops immediate symptoms Call the emergency number usually 911 in the United states and say this is an  state the problem the address and Telephone number and ask what to do until help comes. If a child stops breathing you cannot Wail Lor the Rescue squad Lithe child has choked on something and is unable to talk cough or breathe do one of the allowing for an in nil under a year turn the baby on is stomach on your Lap Wilh its head Down and your hand under ils neck. Hit Iho baby Between Trie shoulder Blades Lour times Check the Mouth for the obstructing object and repeal in in has not come out. A toddler can be allowed to lie on his Back sit or stand. Place one hand on the stomach just under the rib Cage and administer an abrupt Forward thrust. Repeal several times if necessary. Ii the child does not resume breathing or in choking was not the apparent cause of the problem begin Rescue breathing immediately. Till the child s head Back. Form a Seal Wilh your Mouth Over the baby s Mouth and Noso Wilh older children Pinch the nose and Seal the Mouth Wilh yours breathe shallow breaths 20 per minute for infants 12 per minute for older children. Afler Lour minutes Stop Long enough to Cal for emergency assistance then resume Rescue breathing. Cases in which an adult s immediate help is needed. Call a neighbor or your parents if they Are nearby in Case of Burns poisoning a serious Cut swallowed pointed object injury to an Eye or ear. A suspected broken Bone a dog bite or puncture wound. Give your name and your employer s name Tell what happened and what you have done and ask in they would come Over or advise you by phone. Cases in which the parents should be called because a serious problem or an unexpected difficulty has Arisen. This would include limes when the child starts to vomit runs a fever or cries unions Olebly. Cases in which you can handle the problem yourself making sure however to Tell the parents about in when they get Homo. Follow this procedure when any of the following occur bumps and bruises alls abrasions skinned Knees and Elbow nosebleeds splinters a smooth object is swallowed minor bums uncomplicated Bee slings or minor cuts. Call parents immediately however if the Cut occurs on the face or Eye or is serious enough to require stitches self Protection As soon As the parents leave lock All doors and. In it is evening close the curtains. Never answer the Telephone Wilh the name of the family or reveal their address or Telephone number. Don t say the parents Are not Home just that they Are Busy now and you la be Happy id Taka a message. Do no open the door for anyone unless the parents have old you they Are expecting a particular visitor and you can identity the person As the Correct one. Ii someone Pound on the door screaming Lor help Tell him you la Call for emergency assistance but do not let him in. Ii you hear a prowler cull the police and slay out of the Way. If you encounter a burglar in the House cooperate Don t try to be a hero. Remember your Job a caring to the child not saving the family s jewelry. Arrange a signal with your parents o pick you up in you Leel unsafe being driven Home by your employers. Say your parents were planning to get you then Call Home and say i m ready to be picked up