Parent
Responsibilities
Entrusting your children to the care of a babysitter
is a major responsibility. As a parent, you should know your babysitter well and
try to employ the same babysitter on a regular basis. Only trust people who have
a good sense of responsibility and a genuine liking for children in their care.
As a parent, the most important information that you can give to the babysitter
is that, in an emergency, the babysitter's first priority is the children's safety.
Back to responsibilities
Before the Babysitter Arrives
- Make sure that the children and all family
members are familiar with your home escape plan including escape routes and your
outside meeting place. (You may wish to post the escape plan where everyone will
see it.)
- Test all smoke alarms to
make sure that they are working. Smoke alarms provide precious early warning that
can make the difference between living or dying in a fire.
- Speak
to responsible neighbours so that, in an emergency, the babysitter may contact
them.
- Post emergency numbers by the
phone (police, fire, ambulance). Include neighbour's name and telephone number
and also the number where the babysitter can reach you.
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to responsibilities
When the Babysitter Arrives
- Tour
the home with the babysitter. Point out the children's bedrooms and exits from
those rooms.
- Review your home escape
plan with the baby-sitter. Discuss the floor plan pointing out marked exits. Show
the babysitter the outside meeting place and location of your neighbours' houses.
- Make
it clear to the babysitter that if there is smoke or fire, your only concern is
that everyone get out of the house quickly and safely. If the smoke alarm sounds,
no one should try to locate the fire and no one should try to put it out!
- Point
out emergency telephone numbers to the babysitter and provide him or her with
an emergency information sheet (see the example at back of this brochure). Note:
The babysitter should keep this information sheet with him or her at all times
when they are babysitting your children. They may have to leave the house quickly
and run to a neighbour's.
- Provide
a flashlight for the babysitter in the event of a power failure.
- Provide
any additional information to the baby-sitter about the children's routines and
special needs i.e. allergies, medical conditions and medications.
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to responsibilities
Babysitter Responsibilities
In the event
of fire
- Always keep
the safety of the children in mind. Get them to safety.
- If
you see or smell smoke, or detect an odour of gas, get the children immediately
to a safe location outside the building and call the Fire Department at __________
- Do
not waste time dressing the children, even in cold weather: wrap them in a blanket
or other suitable covering.
- Do not
turn on switches as this may create a spark, ignite gas vapours and cause an explosion.
- No
matter how small the fire, move the children to a safe location outside the building
and call the Fire Department.
- Never
re-enter a burning building. Smoke and gases from a fire can be fatal.
Back to responsibilities
Remember
- Keep matches and lighters away from
children.
- Keep children away from
space heaters.
- Keep children in sight
at all times.
- Always keep this brochure
in a conspicuous place.
Back to responsibilities
Emergency Information for Babysitters
Police:
Fire:
Ambulance:
Family name:
Address:
Telephone:
Parents can be reached at:
Address:
Telephone:
Parents are due
back at:
Neighbour's name:
Neighbour's telephone:
Important
information about the children:
Back
to responsibilities
Further
Information
For further information, contact the Silver Lake Fire
District |
