HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital Breese issued the following announcement on Dec. 31.
St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese has become a Registered Safe Sitter® Teaching Site and now offers the life and safety training program for young teens, grades 6-8. More than 600,000 graduates have completed Safe Sitter® at over 900 Teaching Sites across the country. Graduates learn how to prevent injuries and handle emergencies when home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting.
The next Safe Sitter class will take place on Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room at St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese. All classes are taught by a registered nurse from St. Joseph’s Hospital Women and Infants Center at no charge. Students are recommended to bring a sack lunch.
Injuries are the leading cause of death in children up to age five. Safe Sitter® aims to reduce the number of avoidable and unintentional deaths among children being cared for by young teen caretakers. The program follows American Heart Association standards for rescue skills and instruction in first aid techniques from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The nationally-recognized program was developed by pediatrician Dr. Patricia Keener after a colleague’s toddler choked to death while in the care of an adult sitter who didn’t know what to do. Students who complete a Safe Sitter® course gain confidence and learn how, why, and where injuries can happen so they can be prevented. They are taught infant and child choking rescue and CPR. They also learn how a child’s age affects the care they receive, how to prevent problem behavior, how to run their own babysitting business, and issues in online and cellphone safety.
Students who graduate from a Safe Sitter® course receive a completion card that demonstrates they know how to use their skills in situations they encounter.
For more information, contact Melissa Pellizzaro at (618) 526-5488 or Melissa.Pellizzaro@hshs.org. Please register for the class by visiting stjoebreese.com/Events-Classes. Registration is required by Jan. 13.
For more information about the Safe Sitter® organization, contact National Headquarters at 317-596-5001 or visit safesitter.org.
Original source can be found here.
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