Pompton Plains Many 11- to 13-year-olds in our community babysit younger children on a regular basis. But how many of them are prepared for the responsibility they accept when they take a babysitting job? Could they help a choking child? Would they respond quickly and appropriately to a seriously injured child? Safe Sitter® is prepared to help them do these things. Chilton Memorial Hospital is offering Safe Sitter®, a medically accurate instructional program that teaches adolescents how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children. The goal of Safe Sitter® is to reduce the number of accidental and preventable deaths among children being cared for by babysitters. Thousands of youth across the country have been trained by Safe Sitter® to handle life-threatening emergencies. The program is taught by a trained Safe Sitter® instructor. During the course, students get hands-on practice in basic lifesaving techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis. 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. Safe Sitter® also teaches injury prevention and management, behavior management, and preventing problem behavior. Chilton Memorial Hospital will provide the one-day Safe Sitter® program on Tuesday, August 8, for interested 11- to 13-year-olds from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chilton Memorial Hospital, Collins Pavilion, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $60 per student. This fee includes a student manual, lunch and a program completion card. The program is geared for 11- to 13-year-old girls and boys. To register your daughter/son or your child’s babysitter, call the Community Health Department at 973-831-5475.