Ensuring your children receive prompt attention during an emergency is vital to keeping them safe, and trusting a babysitter to protect your child in an emergency situation may make you feel uneasy. However, proper preparation can help your babysitter keep your child safe from harm or to mitigate pain or additional danger.
Preparing Your Babysitter For Emergencies
Create a list of important information
The first step in preparing your babysitter for an emergency is to prepare a list of contacts, addresses, and other important information that the sitter can access in case of an emergency.
- Phone number of parents
- Phone number of neighbors
- Phone number of trusted friends and/or family members in the area
- Local hospital phone number
- Pediatrician’s phone number
- Local emergency services phone number
- Child’s full address
- Address of where parents are going
- Medical information such as allergies or medical conditions
A list of important information will help your sitter have readily available resources in case an emergency arises without having to fumble to look for it in the heat of the moment.
Determine what is considered an emergency
As the babysitter is keeping a watchful eye on your children, it is important for them to distinguish between an emergency and a less urgent problem.
Emergencies:
- Fire
- Dangerous weather conditions
- Injuries such as broken or dislocated bones
- Significant bleeding
- Allergic reactions
- Choking
Non-emergencies
- Small scrapes, cuts, and bruises
- Bleeding that can be stopped by a bandage
- Minor pains
- Minor burns
- Sore throats and cold symptoms
Prepare for the worst
Discussing what an emergency is with your babysitter is only half the battle. You need a detailed plan of what to do in case of various emergencies so your sitter can be prepared.
- In case of a fire, have an escape plan. This should include where to go when an uncontrollable fire breaks out, important items to bring with you (if possible), basic fire escape strategies (such as getting low to avoid smoke), and who to contact once safe.
- For severe weather events, have a plan as to what to do and/or where to go. For tornadoes and hurricanes, basements are the best option, but a room that doesn’t touch an exterior wall of the house is also a good option.
- For broken bones or severe injuries, the sitter should call 911 and/or take the child to the emergency room immediately.
Planning for emergencies may also be location-specific or depend on seasonality. For example, if you live in an area prone to earthquakes, have a plan for that. Winter storms can also cause power outages, so ensure your sitter knows what to do in case the power goes out.
Have first aid readily available
Although first aid kids are typically reserved for non-emergencies, they may still help in an emergency situation. For example, you may be advised by a 911 operator to try to stop the bleeding from an injury with contents from a first aid kit.
Here are items you should keep in a first aid kid:
- Bandages
- Gauze
- Latex gloves
- Cleansing wipes
- Thermometer
- Antiseptic cream
- Antihistamines (benadryl)
You Can Rely On Us During An Emergency
At CapRock Health, we are committed to offering you the best emergency care by providing a team of medical professionals to handle your emergency needs. Give us a call or visit us 24/7 to get the care you deserve.