Gig Harbor Fire Department Offering Safe Sitter Classes in April

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One is offering Safe Sitter classes for students, ages 11 through 13 year olds, during the Peninsula School District spring break. The cost of the course is $40, which pays for the materials the students will receive as part of the program. The classes will be offered on the following days: April 16, 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fire Department Headquarters on Bujacich Road. Students must attend a series of 3 consecutive classes to receive their course completion card.

The Safe Sitter program is a medically accurate program that teaches young adolescents how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children.

The goal of Safe Sitter is to reduce the number of accidental and preventable injuries and deaths among children being cared for by babysitters. Thousands of young adolescents across the country have been trained by Safe Sitter to handle life-threatening emergencies.

A certified professional teaches all medical information. During the course, students get hands-on practice in basic lifesaving techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis.

Safe Sitter participants also receive helpful tips to make them more confident caregivers. They learn safety and security precautions, such as what to do if a stranger comes to the door and when and how to call for help. They receive information on child development and age-appropriate activities, and they will learn about the business aspects of babysitting.

To successfully complete the Safe Sitter program, the students have to pass a practical and written test to show that they have mastered the key concepts and have skills necessary to handle an emergency. 

For more information on Safe Sitter you can contact Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One’s Prevention Division at 253-851-5111 or go to www.gigharborfire.org.