ON GUARD – Tips for Babysitters – part 1
By Laura Quarantiello
© Tiare Publications Group

Caring for children is one of the biggest responsibilities there is. 
Babysitters must both protect the children in their care as well as 
themselves. There are a number of cautionary steps babysitters should 
be aware of:

Know your employer. Baby-sit only for people you or your parents 
know, or for whom you have a personal reference. Answering ads 
seeking babysitters may not be safe.

Be sure to find out what time your employers expect to return. Be 
sure to tell them how much you charge and what time you must be home.

Give your parents the name, address and phone number of where you 
will be babysitting 
and the time you expect to be home.

Before your employers leave obtain the following information from 
them: Address and phone number of the home, address and phone of 
where the parents will be, neighbor contact, doctor's phone, any 
allergies or medications, and any other special instructions or 
routines which should be followed. (If you do a lot of babysitting 
you might want to create a form the employers could fill out for you.)

Ask your employers to do a safety check through their home. Find out 
about smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency exits.

Know how to work the door and window locks in the home – and use 
them. Leave at least one outside light on.

If the phone rings while you're babysitting, don't tell the caller 
you're alone. Say that you are visiting and the residents can't come 
to the phone but that you'll give them a message. If the caller 
persists or gets rude, hang up.

Take precautions, use your common sense, and all will be well.

Laura Quarantiello is the author of "ON GUARD  – How to Win the War 
Against the Bad Guys" – a vitally important book filled with crucial 
information on keeping you and your family safe from the creeps and 
crazies out there.  More information at: 
http://www.tiare.com/onguard.htm