| You and your spouse finally got theater tickets to see | | | | Children's full names and ages - Address of the house |
| your favorite show. For dinner beforehand, you made | | | | including the nearest intersections - in case it's |
| reservations at a restaurant that is usually impossibly | | | | necessary to give directions to emergency workers - |
| busy. You even purchased a new outfit to wear for | | | | Phone number of the house - Name and phone of |
| your big night out on the town. The only thing left to do | | | | family doctor - Emergency numbers including the |
| is find a suitable sitter. It seems like an easy task, but it | | | | National Poison Control Center hotline: 1-800-222-1222 - |
| is by far the most important part of your evening out. | | | | Location of first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and flashlights - |
| The results of choosing an inappropriate babysitter can | | | | Contact information of neighbors or relatives - Food |
| range from mildly annoying to unthinkably tragic. Before | | | | and drug allergies - Where you will be and when you |
| You Hire Babysitter: - Use a friend or family member if | | | | will be home Babysitter Safety - Common Sense |
| possible. Try to get recommendations from friends | | | | Babysitter safety also includes the precautions your |
| who have kids. Always check the references of a | | | | sitter should take to protect the children from outside |
| new babysitter. - Do not hire a sitter under age 12. | | | | dangers. In addition to knowing medical information and |
| Also, keep in mind that the younger the children or the | | | | contact information, your babysitter should also: - Keep |
| greater the number of children, the older your | | | | all doors and windows locked - Turn on outside lights |
| babysitter should be. - Make sure your babysitter | | | | when it gets dark - Check on sleeping children about |
| knows CPR and first aid. Recommend that young | | | | every 15 minutes - Never leave the house with your |
| sitters take the American Red Cross babysitter class. | | | | children unless you gave permission - Refuse to let |
| - Meet the babysitter in advance. Let her spend time | | | | anyone in the house unless she personally knows the |
| with you and your children in advance to observe how | | | | individual - Call 911 if someone suspicious comes to the |
| she interacts with your kids. In many cases, it's a good | | | | door, or if your sitter suspects a prowler - Never |
| idea to hire a potential candidate as a "mother's or | | | | identify herself as the babysitter on the phone - Make |
| father's helper" first. That way, she can get used to | | | | sure she has safe escort home at the end of the |
| watching the kids while you are still home. Babysitter | | | | evening Consider babysitter safety to be the key |
| Safety - What They Need to Know When you leave | | | | ingredient to a relaxing night out with your spouse. |
| the house, babysitter safety should be your primary | | | | After you pick a great babysitter, listen to what your |
| concern. Arm your sitter with the information | | | | children say about the sitter when you get home. Your |
| necessary to ensure your children's wellbeing. Make | | | | kids will give you a good idea about the level of their |
| sure your babysitter knows the following things: - | | | | safety while you were gone. |
| Parents' full names and cell phone or pager numbers - | | | | Ralph Winn. 35 years in the Security System industry. |