Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER - Las Vegas, Nevada 
Safe Sitter® Program

What is it? 
UMC’s Family Resource Center offers Safe Sitter® classes. In the two-day program, teens are taught about handling emergency situations when caring for children. Instruction on basic child care, first aid, choking prevention, rescue breathing, when to call for emergency help, and babysitting business skills are part of the curriculum. Participants earn a certificate upon successful completion. They can show this certificate to parents or caregivers to let them know that they have received child care training.

Who is it for? 
The two-day program is offered for free to adolescents age 11 to 13.

Why do they do it? 
Through the Safe Sitter program, UMC provides babysitters with medically accurate information. In addition to this instruction, participants get hands-on practice in basic life-saving techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis.  The motto of Safe Sitter is “Better sitters today…better parents tomorrow.”

Impact: 
Seventy-five adolescents attended Safe Sitter sessions held during summer 2008. 

Contact:  Lisa Pacheco
Telephone:  383-2229
E-mail:  Lisa.Pacheco@umcsn.com