Murray-Calloway County Hospital now offers the life and safety training program for young teens 12 and up, as well as any person providing private childcare.

Additional class dates have been added for The Safe Sitter® course. Additional classes will be held on Saturday, July 23^rd, 2022 and Saturday, July 30^th, 2022, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, at Murray-Calloway County Hospital, in the Dalton Conference Room, located on the First Floor of the North Tower. Participants should enter at the West Entrance, on 9^th Street, across from the Regional Cancer Center. All participants must pre-register online at mccems.aidaform.com/free-course-registration-form . The two classes are independent and only one session is required for certification. The cost of the course is $20.00 to be paid upon arrival. Cost includes Safe Sitter® class, course workbook, and lunch on-site.

More than 600,000 graduates have completed Safe Sitter® at over 900 Teaching Sites across the country. Graduates learn how to prevent injuries and handle emergencies when home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.

Injuries are the leading cause of death in children up to age 5. Safe Sitter® aims to reduce the number of avoidable and unintentional deaths among children being cared for by young teen caretakers and private sitters. The program follows American Heart Association standards for rescue skills and instruction in first aid techniques from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The nationally-recognized program was developed by 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. Students who complete a Safe Sitter® course gain confidence and learn how, why, and where injuries can happen so they can be prevented. They are taught infant and child choking rescue, and CPR. The CPR portion of the class will be lead by the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Emergency Medical Services team, who has been awarded the KY EMS for Children Award of Excellence for four consecutive years. Attendees will also learn how a child’s age affects the care they receive, how to prevent problem behavior, how to run their own babysitting business, and issues in online and cellphone safety.

Students who graduate from a Safe Sitter® course receive a completion card that demonstrates they know how to use their skills in situations they encounter. Girl Scout participants will earn a badge for completion of the course.

For more information about Murray-Calloway County Hospital and Murray-Calloway County Hospital Emergency Medical Services, contact 270.762.1382.

For more information about the Safe Sitter® organization, contact National Headquarters at 317.596.5001 or visit safesitter.org.