When my children were young, my wife and I hired a babysitter when we planned a night out. As parents, we took precautions – the same precautions taken by parents today. Parents tell the babysitter where they are going, when they will return, and leave a number where they can be reached. They lock the windows and doors and place the snacks on the kitchen counter. Parents remind the babysitter to call them if there are any problems and to call the police if there is an emergency.
\n \nCalgary has always been a safe city, but as parents, we still take the necessary steps to ensure our children’s safety. When you’re cautious, you’re also more likely to enjoy a more relaxed, and less worrisome, night away from the children.
\nAs parents, we know the basic safety tips and crime prevention strategies, but we can always use a refresher. St. John Ambulance, the Red Cross, the Calgary Jewish Centre and the YMCA provide babysitting-training courses that also offer valuable information to parents. The courses advise babysitters to get a list of the following information from parents, including:
\nthe time you plan to return,
\nemergency phone numbers (police, fire, ambulance, Poison Centre and neighbour or family friend),
\nyour home address and telephone number, and
\nthe cross street or description of your house location.
\nThe courses also advise parents to take the babysitter on a house tour to discuss things such as:
\nhow to lock the doors and windows
\nhow the burglar alarms work and what could set them off,
\nthe fire plan,
\nthe location of and how to use the fire extinguisher and first aid kit, and
\nthe location of the smoke detectors and flash light.
\nYou may also wish to make a checklist of your own and have the babysitter tick off each task as it is completed. The checklist could include tasks such as:
\n\n
locking the windows and doors,
\nturning the outside lights on after dark,
\nplacing the emergency contact information by the telephone, and
\nclosing the blinds and drawing the shades.
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It’s also important to discuss or role-play specific situations to ensure that your babysitter knows what do and is confident dealing with situations that may arise. Ask your babysitter what they would do in the following situations. Then discuss what the Calgary Police Service and St. John Ambulance advise babysitters to do:
\nIf someone is at the door: Use the peephole, or talk through the door, to see who is there. Never open the door and never tell anyone you are babysitting. Yell through the door, “My mom (or dad) is busy, come back later!” You can also offer to take a message. If the person will not leave, call 9-1-1.
\nIf someone calls: Say, “My mom (or dad) is busy, please call back later.” Take a message and tell the caller that the person will call them back. Hang up if the caller becomes a nuisance and call the police if you feel threatened.
\nIf they hear suspicious noises or activity: Call the police.
\nIf there is an emergency: Call 9-1-1.
\nIf there is a fire: Never attempt to put out the fire. Remain calm and leave the house immediately. Call 9-1-1 from a neighbour’s house.
\nThe most difficult task for many parents may be finding someone to care for your children. In addition to experience caring for children, parents may want to find someone who has completed a babysitting-training program. These courses teach skills such as how to play with children and how to care for infants. Courses also teach basic first aid, how to keep children safe and how to react in an emergency.
\n\nFor more safety tips on babysitting and staying home alone visit the Calgary Police Service Web site at http://www.calgarypolice.com/
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