Published Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Herald Staff Writer
Eight young ladies in Hermitage are now set to embark into the wide, and sometimes wild, world of baby-sitting.
The girls, all members of Girl Scout Junior Troop 394, completed a baby-sitting training course through Mercer County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Troop co-leaders Ann Ulewicz and Diane Ward contacted the Red Cross about the training to help the girls earn their child- care, first-aid, business-wise and nursing-as-a-career merit badges.
On Saturday, the girls learned first aid and what to do for a choking or unconscious victim. Samantha Gutshall, a baby-sitting training instructor with the Red Cross, first showed the girls videos of what to do in an emergency. Then the Girl Scouts were able to practice on dummies.
The girls learned the difference between helping a choking or unconscious child versus an infant.
To help a choking baby, one must deliver sharp blows to the baby's back, Ms. Gutshall said.
"This sounds brutal, but remember if you don't get this out, the baby is going to die," she said.
In addition to first aid, the girls learned other helpful baby-sitting tips. Amy Ward, 11, said they learned what the proper toys are for each age group of children.
Kayleigh Nashtock, 11, said the troop learned how to properly change both a cloth and a disposable diaper. The girls also learned how to feed and care for a baby, Hilary Landfried, 11, said.
The girls also went through training Feb. 8 in which they learned about some of the business aspects of baby-sitting, such as how much to charge, how to advertise services, how to write a resume and how to go on a family interview, Mrs. Ulewicz said.
The troop also visited Sharon Regional Health System's School of Nursing, where the girls had a chance to learn about the career and talk to nurses in different fields, such as pediatrics and oncology, Mrs. Ulewicz said.
Kayleigh said the training is important because she wants to be prepared to help children she's baby-sitting, especially if a child gets hurt.
Olivia Ruth, 11, said baby sitters need to know what to do in an emergency "so you're not just standing there."
Each of the girls earned her baby-sitting certification at the end of Saturday's training.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharonherald.com