Safety Training Resources

Not all accidents are so playful. Are you prepared?

Caring for children can often be an unpredictable task, but it doesn't have to be impossible to prepare for. All good caregivers have learned to expect the unexpected and have prepared themselves for all sorts of situations.

There are a variety of online and offline classes that sitters can take, through Sittercity.com and otherwise, to ready themselves for a job. Consider the following helpful resources when training your sitter and yourself in job safety.

HEIMLICH MANEUVER

For online information about how to do the Heimlich maneuver on infants, adults, seniors or yourself, as well as detailed illustrations, visit the Heimlich Institute. www.heimlichinstitute.org/howtodo.html

CPRTODAY

CPRToday offers the most complete and thorough online safety training available! Through their online classes, sitters can earn nationally recognized certification in child and infant CPR, first aid and AED. www.cprtoday.com

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID, CPR AND AED

These programs are designed to give you the confidence to respond in an emergency situation with skills that can save a life. Additional training in bloodborne pathogens, oxygen administration and injury prevention can be added to CPR and first aid training to prepare you to prevent and respond to life-threatening emergencies. Find a local training course online today! www.redcross.org

BABYSITTER TRAINING COURSES

The Red Cross Babysitter Handbook is designed to give babysitters all of the information they need to handle babysitting emergencies. www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/handbook.html

Sitter can also take an online babysitter training course through babysittingclass.com. This online course includes information on job safety, entertaining children and security. Available to the applicant for a year after signing up, the class contains tests, online lesson plans and a babysitting encyclopedia. Graduates of the class receive a certificate and wallet card. www.babysittingclass.com

EMERGENCY POSTERS

Find emergency posters for blood transfer, fire extinguisher safety, the Heimlich maneuver and more. Please post them near your safety devices in the home. www.hrdocs.com/Posters/hrproducts/workplace_Posters.asp

Learn about 911, its history and its effectiveness, and changing numbers around the world at the National Emergency Number Association. www.nena9-1-1.org/

CHILDPROOFING

With a little careful planning and the right products, you can create a safe home to be enjoyed by entire family. KidSmartLiving now offers a complete line of proven child safety products used by in-home childproofing pros. www.kidsmartliving.com/safetyitems.html