MEMBERS

Make The Right Call
Baby-sitters Make the Right Call to EMS

• Know the address of where you are baby-sitting. Know where the nearest intersection is so that you can give directions to emergency workers if necessary.
• Be sure you know the emergency number to call from the home you're working at because it may not be the same number as the one you'd call from your own home.
• Ask for a phone number to reach the parent(s). If they are not reachable, ask them to give you the name and phone number of someone else to contact, or contact your own parents.
• Carefully answer the call taker/dispatcher's questions. Remember that EMS call takers/dispatchers are specially trained to help you. Answer their questions. Do not hang up until the call takers/dispatchers tells you can.
• Attend classes for baby-sitters if they are offered in your community; learn how to handle life threatening situations, such as stopping bleeding, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and responding to poisoning.
• Remember that watching the children - not talking on the phone or watching television - is your first priority.
• Find out if the children under your care have any special medical problems. NEVER give medicine to them unless the parent(s) has instructed you about what and how much to give.
• Stay in the house unless you have permission to take the children outside. Never leave the house without the children.
• Remember to pull the crib rail all the way up when putting a baby to bed.
• Be careful when bathing kids. A slippery tub can be dangerous.
• Never leave children unattended in the bathtub.
• Know where a flashlight and batteries are, or better yet, take a flashlight with you.
• Keep matches, lighters, fireworks, medicines, household chemicals, knives and other sharp objects, out of the reach of small children.
• Keep matches, lighters, fireworks, medicines, household chemicals, knives and other sharp objects, out of the reach of small children.
• Call the parents, or your parents, if for any reason you become afraid.
• Don't waste precious time trying to put out a fire, even if you are afraid you might be blamed for it. Take the child and get out of the house; then call for help from a neighbor's.
• Don't leave food unattended. If you must prepare meals, keep them simple. Don't let the children cook. If they are allowed to help, they shouldn't use knives or appliances.

Since 10.10.04