Help Your Babysitter Prepare for Anything

Everyday activities keep many parents so busy that they can't take their children with them everywhere.

That makes it crucial to find the right babysitter, and make sure that the sitter can be entrusted with your child.

When you're looking for a babysitter, give yourself enough time to be selective. You should:

• Look for a sitter within your circle of friends, church or community.

• Look for someone who already works with children.

• Always check references.

Safe Sitter, a national organization devoted to training adolescents to become safe babysitters, strongly recommends that the sitter have had some baby-sitting training, including what to do if a child begins to choke.

Parents must also make sure that their home provides first aid supplies and a safe environment.

To make sure your sitter is ready for any situation that arises and knows how to get help, give the sitter this checklist for use in an emergency:

Family Name:

Phone Number:

Address:

Children's names and ages:

Phone number where parent or guardian will be:

Address where parent or guardian can be reached:

Cellular phone number:

Pager number:

Neighbor's name and phone number:

Local relative's phone number:

Local emergency phone number:

Doctor's name:

Doctor's phone number:

Insurance name and number:

Poison Control Center:

Police:

Ambulance:

Fire Department:

What time you will be home: