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Program prepares smart, responsible Safe Sitters

by Connor Watkins
Public Relations
“Better sitters today. Better parents tomorrow.” That’s the motto of MUSC’s Safe Sitter program, a two-day course designed to train young adolescents, ages 11 and older, to respond in the event of an emergency when watching over a child. It is sponsored through the Volunteer and Guest Services office.
 
This babysitting training program was founded in 1980 by former MUSC resident Patricia A. Keener, M.D., assistant dean emeritus of medical service learning at Indiana University School of Medicine, who is now the program’s medical director responsible for managing 900 teaching sites nationwide and in Great Britain.
 
Safe Sitter gives participants the confidence and knowledge to make good decisions in the safe care of children, learn the fundamentals of child care, prevent injuries, practice safe behaviors, and build other necessary skills. MUSC has committed to be a registered Safe Sitter teaching site.
 
“I took this class in my home town of Troy, Pennsylvania, when I was 11 years old and found the skills I learned to be invaluable,” said Kelly Hedges, Volunteer and Guest Services, who is a certified Safe Sitter instructor at MUSC. “It’s really thrilling for me to be teaching this class 20 years later!”
 
The goal of this program is to provide participating youths with a foundation to learn and build valuable life skills needed to be responsible parents later in life.
 
Children who are interested in attending a 2009 Safe Sitter class can register to attend one of two summer sessions, July 15-16 and Aug.10-11, Room 2408, Ashley River Tower.
 
For more information, visit http://www.musc.edu/broadcast/show/ or call 876-4246.

Friday, July 3, 2009


The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.