Babysitting can be a minefield of "what ifs" for both sitters and parents.
Giving youngsters knowledge and parents peace of mind is, perhaps, the biggest benefit of babysitting seminars offered by Mesa.
Best Babysitting Workshop, with instructors from Emergency Response Training of Glendale, allows youths ages 8 to 16 handson experience in CPR, first aid, child care and feeding.
"The workshop covers everything from how long breast milk can be kept in the refrigerator to how to mix formula," said Megan Cross, spokeswoman for Emergency Response Training. Also provided is instruction in drowning prevention, home safety, emergency fire escape planning and poisoning safeguards.
Cross said summer is a popular time for the workshop, with Valley youths looking for seasonal jobs. A card acknowledging completion is issued at the end of the five-hour workshop. Participants also get mouth-to-mannequin plastic barriers and a workshop manual.
"With the hands-on instruction, the students are better prepared for possible emergency situations," Cross said. "They also can recognize potential dangers."
The workshop includes curricula established by the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Child Care Health Program and Child Care Licensing.
Best Babysitting Workshop
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 17
Where: Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E. Adobe Road, Mesa
Cost: $40
Info: (480) 644-4804; registration required
