Baptist South Offers Safe Sitter Class on December 9 for Youth, Ages 11 to 14

Jacksonville, Florida, November 6, 2006 -- Baptist Medical Center South is offering a Safe Sitter Class Saturday, December 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Azalea Room on the first floor.

Baptist South joins hundreds of cities across the country that offer Safe Sitter baby-sitter training classes. The medically accurate program teaches youth from age 11 to 14 about how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children.

The program was originally developed by Patricia Keener, MD, a pediatrician who became interested in starting a program after the tragic loss of an infant who choked while in the care of an adult sitter who didn't know what to do. The goal of Safe Sitter is to reduce the number of avoidable accidents among children begin cared for by adolescent baby-sitters.

To date, there have been more than 400,000 Safe Sitter graduates across the United States. Training includes such topics as handling life-threatening emergencies, keeping themselves safe, how to call for help, and how to understand the needs of children of different ages.

This one-day course includes practical skills and a written test. Upon completion, the participant will receive a certificate, along with his or her manual, which is designed to serve as a reference for many years to come.

The cost associated with the course is $25 to cover the materials the student will receive. Please call 904.202.CARE (2273) for more information and registration.