After Rocky Start, This Safe Sitter® Became A Hero

When teens take a Safe Sitter® class, they learn first aid so they’re prepared for injuries that may happen when home alone, sibling sitting, or babysitting. But injuries can happen anytime and anywhere, and having the skills to deal with them can make all the difference. That’s what Safe Sitter® graduate Rebecca Barnes learned.

At 14, Rebecca, the youngest of her siblings, was ready to start babysitting. Her mother, Shannon, recommended she take Safe Sitter® at Chesapeake College in Wye Mill, Maryland to help prepare her. Rebecca admits she was still nervous about babysitting even after completing the class. She wasn’t sure she’d be ready if anything happened during a job. However, something would soon happen to give her confidence a boost and show her just how ready she was.

Her Quick Action Made A Difference

One day, Rebecca was playing with friends at the park when they heard screaming coming from a nearby river. Rebecca was the first to take off in the direction of the screams, with her friends following shortly after. She found an 8-year-old boy who’d been playing alone on the rocks and had cut his foot badly on one of them. The boy was crying and scared but she remembered from class to stay calm, and she reminded her friends that they needed to stay calm for him too.

Using first aid skills she learned in Safe Sitter®, Rebecca took out an extra tank top she had in her pocket and used it to apply pressure to the cut. The bleeding didn’t stop so she took off one of her shirts to put on top. She then wrapped her ponytail holder around the makeshift bandaging to keep everything in place while she carried the young boy up the rocks, across a farm field, through the park, and another 2/10ths of a mile to his grandmother’s house. The grandmother took the injured boy to the hospital where he received eight stitches.

She’s Ready To Handle Emergencies – Anytime or Anywhere

Rebecca now knows she had what it takes to stay calm, use her Safe Sitter® skills, and handle situations, whether babysitting or not. “Even if you’re not planning to babysit, it is a very intelligent class that prepares you for when adults aren’t around to help,” she said. “Even if it doesn’t sound important, it is a very important class to take. And pay attention during class!”

Shannon is impressed that her daughter used the tools she’d learned in class to stay calm and help a young child in his time of need. “I am incredibly proud of her for her quick thinking and jumping into action to help,” said Shannon. “I credit the Safe Sitter® training for giving her the knowledge to know how to react appropriately and effectively.”

Help your child be a hero! Find a Safe Sitter® class near you.