"Call 911! This child is choking!”
The 14 students in the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan's Babysitting Training class learned everything from entertaining cranky toddlers and feeding infants to managing emergencies ranging from injuries, choking and unconscious babies and children. Held last Thursday at the organization's office, the six-hour course geared to 11- to 15-year-old aspiring babysitters featured hands-on practice as well as videos, lecture and problem-solving activities.
Thanks to video lessons, students learned how to assess an emergency and when and how to call for help, using declarative statements such as the one above to get an adult's attention and assistance. Students also followed along step-by-step using infant and child-sized dummies to practice rescue breathing and assessment techniques. They also practiced on the infant dummies and each other the basics of handling a choking situation, alternating back blows with abdominal thrusts.
"The first aid information, those kinds of emergencies come up,” said Mary Fischer, volunteer and youth amazing what kids choke on — and that can be a life-threatening emergency so it's important to know what to do that's going to save a life, whether they use it at babysitting or at school.”
Fischer has been teaching the Babysitting Training course about monthly for ten years, usually drawing between 14-20 students. While the course is mostly held on Saturdays, the Red Cross offers weekday sessions during school holiday breaks.
No matter when it is held, the class is fast-paced with students briskly moving from topic to topic and having a working lunch at their desks.
"We pack a lot in,” said Fischer of the class. "Learning is a matter of hearing it several times and actually practicing the skills, we have to physically put it into our bodies and learn it better.”
Students left the class with a Red Cross card and a boost to their self-assurance as they seek babysitting jobs.
"I feel confident now,” said Christine Cypher, 11, a sixth grade student at Westwoods Elementary School. "I just told my mom I needed to take this so I could go out and babysit other kids, not just my brother and his friends and my cousins.”
Cameron Benak, 12, has also babysat for family members and is looking to spread his wings in jobs watching children who are not relatives. He discovered the course thanks to friends who previously took it.
"I learned a lot, especially how to stop somebody from choking,” said Benak of the demonstrations and practice with back blows and abdominal thrusts.
Benak also found the information about entertaining children of various ages helpful. Students in the class discussed various age-appropriate toys and activities for age ranges including infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children. Discussing activities that engaged one or more of the five senses, students discussed which were appropriate for all age groups and which for just one age.
"This gives a pretty good idea for what to bring for what age group,” Benak noted.
The class also discussed how to work with parents as a family's new babysitter, including reviewing a sample family interview form and safety checklist. These comprehensive documents help a babysitter determine and follow family rules, such as playing outside, toys allowed, whether friends may visit and any food restrictions or meal requirements.
"Sometimes you're going to get parents who will tell you everything and sometimes you're going to get parents who will, 'You're here, goodbye!'” said Fischer of the initial meeting at a family's home.
Course graduate Angela Ondrajka, an eighth grade student at West Junior High, was Fischer's instructor aid for the day. She helped demonstrate and explain various topics and concepts and generally pitched in to help as needed.
"They're learning a lot of skills, how to speak in front of a class and present information,” noted Fischer of student helpers.
The next American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan Babysitting Training class will be held on Saturday, January 27, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The cost is $30 and students ages 11-15 may enroll. For more information or to register, call the Red Cross at 947-7286 or see their web site at www.northwestmichigan.redcross.org.