Young Teens Become Safe Sitters at STPH
COVINGTON – The Parenting Center of St. Tammany Parish Hospital has achieved Silver Status as a Registered Safe Sitter® Teaching Site, offering life and safety training for young teens grades 6-8. The silver distinction is issued to those centers teaching more than 100 students in a single year.
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. 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. They 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.
For more information about Safe Sitter at STPH Parenting Center call 985-898-4435 or visit STPH.org. For more information about the Safe Sitter® organization, contact National Headquarters at 317.596.5001 or visit safesitter.org.
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A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is recognized for quality, safety and the patient experience by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital is an independent service district in a clinically integrated partnership with Ochsner Health System. Together, the two organizations focus on aligning their healthcare offerings to best serve patients and families in west St. Tammany and surrounding areas. Under their agreement, the two organizations retain their autonomy; neither partner manages nor owns the other. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. Learn more at stph.org.