Rutherford Regional Health System is offering the Safe Sitter® course for young teens 11 to 13 years of age.  Two different one-day class dates will be offered: Wednesday, July 3, and Wednesday, July 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

More than 500,000 adolescent babysitters have graduated from the medically-accurate program which instills students with confidence as they learn how, why and where injuries can happen so they can be prevented.  Rutherford Regional Health System has partnered with Safe Kids Rutherford County for the past six years to offer this course.

The up-to-date curriculum provides hands-on practice in lifesaving techniques designed to prepare babysitters to act in an emergency. Babysitters also receive instruction on how a child’s age affects how to care for them, how to prevent problem behavior and how to run their own babysitting business. They also learn basic first aid and how to perform infant and child choking rescue.

To graduate from the Safe Sitter® course and receive a completion card, students must pass a written test that indicates their mastery of key concepts and life and safety skills.

The cost of the course includes a student handbook, babysitting bag of supplies, course completion card and lunch. Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited.  To register your son or daughter for one of these classes, contact the site coordinator by calling 828-286-5218 or emailing Charlene.proctor@rutherfordregional.com.

For more information about the Safe Sitter® organization, contact National Headquarters at 800-255-4089 or visit www.safesitter.org.

– article submitted by Allison Flynn