The next Safe Sitter class for girls and boys ages 11 to 13 will be held on Wednesday, August 3 and Thursday, August 4, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Christian County Extension Office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville, IL 62568.
The two-day Safe Sitter program is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension Christian County, Christian County Home and Community Education Association, and Taylorville Memorial Hospital.
During the course, students get hands-on practice in basic life-saving techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis, with medical information taught by a certified professional.
Safe Sitter participants also receive helpful tips to make them more confident caregivers, learning safety and security precautions, such as what to do if a stranger comes to the door and when and how to call for help. Information on child development and age-appropriate activities, and the business aspects of babysitting are also taught.
To become a certified Safe Sitter, students have to pass a rigorous practical and written test to show they have mastered the key concepts and have the skills necessary to handle an emergency.
For a registration form or information, call the Christian County Extension Office at 217-287-7246. There is a limit to the number of participants we can accommodate in the class, so register as soon as possible. The registration fee is $30, and pre-paid registration is due by Friday, July 29.
