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