Texas Health HEB to offer Safe Sitter® Program
Two sessions of two-day class will be offered in June
BEDFORD, TEXAS, May 1, 2015 – While a comprehensive training manual has yet to be invented for parents, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is offering a practical class for young people (ages 11-14) who are interested in babysitting to earn extra money.
Texas Health HEB is offering two sessions of the two-day, internationally recognized Safe Sitter® classes on June 11-12 and June 29-30 to teach adolescent babysitters how to handle a crisis, keep their charges secure, perform CPR and care for a choking child, prevent and manage problem behavior, and other child care essentials.
Safe Sitter is a national, nonprofit organization that provides programs to teach youth life and safety skills for when they are babysitting, home alone or watching younger siblings. More than175 lives have been saved by Safe Sitter graduates using their skills, according to the organization.
Samantha Moriak of Bedford took the class two years ago to understand what is involved in babysitting. She credits Safe Sitter with building her confidence and helping her understand the best ages for her to babysit.
“The class helped me know what to do in certain situations,” Samantha said. “It gave me the knowledge to get started in babysitting.”
Samantha’s mother Maureen said she would recommend the class to parents and potential babysitters, saying, “The class was very thorough and helped Samantha realize how serious a job that babysitting is.”
Participants ages 11 to 14 will be taught by Safe Sitter instructors on June 11-12 and June 29-30. Classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Classes will be taught at the Siratt Women’s Center classroom at Texas Health HEB, located at 1600 Hospital Parkway in Bedford. There is a $75 cost to cover the materials and classes are limited to 12 students.
“Babysitting is a huge responsibility,” said Carol Speed, certified Safe Sitter instructor and community health educator at Texas Health HEB. “This course helps the babysitters understand what is involved and how to handle most situations, and parents can feel confident that their babysitter has received proper training.”
To register, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355). Registration is also online at www.TexasHealth.org/HEB (click on Classes and Events Calendar).
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About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is a 304-bed, acute-care facility serving Northeast Tarrant County since 1973. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a dedicated oncology unit, comprehensive cardiac services (including cardiac rehabilitation), and behavioral health services through Texas Health Springwood Hospital. Texas Health HEB recently received Level III Trauma Center designation as well as dual accreditation as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure Center. The hospital also is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, certified as a Primary Stroke Center and designated as a "Baby Friendly" facility by WHO and UNICEF.Texas Health HEB is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/HEB.