Reid Hospital - Foundation funds Safe Sitter classes

John Dooley

My name is John P. Dooley, and I live in Pershing, Indiana. Through the past five years I've had many occasions to stay overnight at Reid Hos...

Wei-Hua Lee

She's an Indianapolis medical researcher, a newspaper editor and now, a huge fan of Reid Hospital's heart program. Wei-Hua Lee, associate professor of...

Maurice Hurd - Richmond, IN

After recovering from extensive heart surgery, Maurice Hurd, also a diabetic, began working through the Reid cardiac rehabilitation program where s...

View all Stories »

Health care crisis, high unemployment demand tightened financial policies at Reid Hospital

Rising unemployment, Medicaid reductions, slated cuts to Medicare from health care reform and increasing numbers of people unable or sometimes unwilling to pay for services have forced Reid Hospital to tighten financial policies to ensure fairness and good stewardship.

3 Reid Community Benefit grants announced

Three organizations have received grants to improve community health and fitness from the Reid Hospital & Health Care Services Community Benefit committee.

Reid plans booth at Darke County Fair

Patrons of this year’s Darke County Fair will be able to collect wellness tips, gather medical information and find informed comment at the Reid Hospital & Health Care Services booth, which will also offer daily door prizes.

View all news »

Foundation funds Safe Sitter classes

For years, parents have put their young children into the hands of an untrained, older child for temporary care. In 2008, Reid educators saw a need to provide formal training for area adolescents to become a "safe sitter" and with funding from Reid Foundation became a registered SafeSitter® training site. During 2009, its first year in Richmond, Reid certified 30 students.

"Reid wants to help prepare our teens and pre-teens to deal with potential safety issues while babysitting," said Pat Murrah, Health Educator. "It is important that they learn techniques to resolve a problem or hazard before it arises."

The program is a one-day class for guys and girls that include topics such as injury management, preventing problem behavior, and care of a choking infant or child. In addition, students learn safety for themselves and how to make good decisions in choosing a babysitting job.

SafeSitter® instructor and Registered Nurse Barb Black suggests, "Sitters should not advertise their services but rather only work for people they know or are acquainted with." She also recommends that sitters always call references to keep themselves safe from a harmful situation.

The program will be offered six times this year. A small registration fee of $5 provides a full day of education, lunch, SafeSitter® bag, and materials. In addition, students receive two follow-up newsletters. At the end of the course, parents are invited to attend a short demonstration to see what their child learned through the program. "You can see their confidence improve immediately!" Black added.

"I would absolutely recommend the program to others," said Shara Short, parent. "My daughter had a good time and was glad to have some training."

For more information on the SafeSitter® program or to register for an upcoming class, call 983-3094.

Back to Mission Report