Injury Prevention

5.) When You're Not Home

Babysitters – whether they’re grandparents, neighbors or teenagers – take your place while you’re not at home. It becomes their job to protect your child’s safety. Do not underestimate the importance of clear and detailed instructions. The following tips will help prepare your babysitter for potential problems.

Make sure your babysitter knows the emergency phone numbers in your area and how to reach you in case an emergency occurs. These suggestions will help prepare your babysitter if there’s a problem.

Post emergency phone numbers – including police, fire, ambulance service, hospital, physician and poison center numbers – near the phone. Tell the babysitter where the phone numbers are posted.
Always write down the phone number of the place where you will be, your cell phone number or pager number, and post it near the phone.
Always leave the phone number of a neighbor or relative to call in case of emergency.
Make sure the babysitter knows your street address and phone number for identification purposes.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's Emergency Department phone number is
412-692-5555
The Pittsburgh Poison Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh phone number
is 1-800-222-1222

More Pointers for Parents.

Last Update
May 23, 2008

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