Photo: North Star’s 2023 Safe Sitters class
Catholic Charities’ North Star Youth Partnership is hosting several Safe Sitter® courses this summer, to equip teens with the necessary life and safety skills to prevent injuries and handle emergencies when home alone watching younger siblings or babysitting. Available for youth ages 11 and older, one and two-day courses are being held at Catholic Charities: 434 W. Gurley St., Prescott, 86301.
Available classes:
Thursday-Friday, July 10 -11: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Thursday-Friday, July 17 -18: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 16: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 23: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Safe Sitter is a nationally recognized program that was developed by a pediatrician, Dr. Patricia Keener, after a colleague’s toddler choked to death while in the care of an adult sitter who didn’t know what to do. Injuries are the leading cause of death in children up to age five. Safe Sitter aims to reduce the number of avoidable and unintentional deaths among children being cared for by teen caretakers.
Students who complete a Safe Sitter course gain confidence and learn how, why, and where dangers and injuries can occur so they can be prevented. They are taught infant and child first aid and rescue skills, including choking rescue and CPR. They also learn how a child’s age affects the care they receive, as well as prevention for problem behaviors, internet and cellphone safety, and skills for running a babysitting business.
“Safe Sitter is an excellent training to prepare teens for the responsibilities of babysitting. It’s also a great idea for parents who hire babysitters to sponsor their babysitter so they can be officially trained in this nationwide training,” said Kasey Shaver, North Star Youth Partnership Safe Sitter Coordinator and Trainer.
Graduates of the course receive a completion card that demonstrates they know how to use their skills in situations they encounter. The program follows American Heart Association standards for rescue skills and instruction in first aid techniques from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The two-day training courses are $95, and one-day courses are $55. To register for a Safe Sitter course, contact Kasey Shaver at kshaver@cc-az.org or 928-899-7141.
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About Catholic Charities Community Services:
Founded in 1933, Catholic Charities provides care for the vulnerable of all faiths in central and northern Arizona through programs in foster care, early education, affordable housing, veteran services, refugee resettlement, and homeless outreach. Learn more by visiting www.
