Babysitting is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. Do not accept a babysitting job from someone you do not know. Find out what the parents expectations are before you accept the job. Make sure your parents know where you will be, how to contact you, and when you will be home. While babysitting, your primary responsibility is it to keep the child safe and out of harms way.
What to do before the parents leave.
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Obtain emergency contact information from the parents should an emergency arise.
In the event of an emergency, contact 911. State your name, the address you are calling from and the reason for your call.
Obtain written instructions from the parent if you are to give the child medication.
Adopt a “No Visitors” policy while babysitting.
Be sure to meet the family dog.
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Take a walk through the house and look for potential hazards.
Plan out a mental fire drill in your head should you have to evacuate the house.
Find out if you are to give the child anything to eat or drink before bed. •
What to do when the parents leave.
• Make sure all of the doors are locked and turn on the outside porch lights.
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Know where the child is at all times and never leave them alone for a long period.
Once the child is asleep, check on them often and keep the volume on the TV/radio
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• low so that you can hear them should they start to cry or call for you.
Do not open the door for any reason and if the person refuses to leave, call 911.
Do not go outside to investigate suspicious noises or activities, call 911.
Do not tell a caller that you are the babysitter, offer to take a message.
• If you have to leave the house for any reason, TAKE THE CHILD WITH YOU.
In Case of a Fire.
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Sound the alarm. Yell fire as loud as possible.
If possible, close the door to the area where the fire is.
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Do not attempt to extinguish the fire.
Get everyone out of the house and do not go back in for any reason.
Keep everyone together and go to a neighbor’s house for help.
Call 911.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department - Crime Prevention
601 East Trade Street Charlotte, NC 28202
For more information, visit www.cmpd.org
or call us at 704.336.2310

First Aid.
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For minor cuts, stop bleeding by applying gentle pressure with a clean cloth. Wash the wound and apply a bandage.
Learn CPR.
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If the child swallows something poisonous, call 911. Have the container ready so that you can read it to the dispatcher.
Show child how to stop, drop, and roll in case their clothes catch of fire. Rolling smothers the flames.
Put cool water on a burn; this slows skin damage. If the skin is blistered, white, brown or charred, you need to call 911.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department - Crime Prevention
601 East Trade Street Charlotte, NC 28202
For more information, visit www.cmpd.org
or call us at 704.336.2310