Baby-sit only for people you know, or have a personal reference from a trusted
adult. Answering newspaper ads is not as safe as agreeing to sit for a friend
of the family.
Be sure to find out from your employer what time they expect to be back. If it's
your first time sitting for them, make sure they know how much you charge and
if you have a curfew.
Leave the name, address and telephone number of where you'll be babysitting
with your parents. Let them know what time your employer expects to be back
home.
On the Job
Before the parents leave, fill out the information on the attached form. Do this
for every job you take.
Have the parents do a safety check with you-find emergency exits in case of fire,
and find out if there are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Know how to operate the door and window locks.
Leave at least one outside light on at night.
If the phone rings, don't tell the caller that you are alone. Tell the caller that
the parents cannot come to the phone right now, but you'll take a message. If the
caller persists or gets rude, just hang up.
Don't open the door to strangers, and don't tell anyone who comes to the door
you are alone. Again, tell them that you'll take a message.
When you are out with the child(ren) don't talk to strangers. If you think
you are being followed, go to a nearby house, store, or gas station and call
the police.
When you get back to the house, if anything seems unusual-a broken window,-do not
go in, call the police form a neighbor's house.
In An Emergency
If there is a fire, get the child(ren) and yourself out of the house. Go to a
neighbor's house and call the fire department. Try to take the Emergency Checklist with
you and call the parents.
In any kind of an emergency, stay calm. The most important thing to remember is
that young children won't panic if you don't.
When the Job's Over
When the employer returns home, report on what happened.
Call home to let someone know your're on your way.
Be sure to have an escort home; this should be one of the conditions under
which you accept any babysitting job.
If, for some reason, your employer won't drive or walk you home-or if they seem
intoxicated-ask someone at your house to come and get you. NEVER
go home alone at night from a babysitting job.
Keep your Babysitting Safety Checklist near the phone or in your pocket.
