Last summer, Lorie Strane had to perform both the Heimlich Maneuver and back blows on her children. She never thought she would have to use what she has now been teaching to preteens for more than 10 years.

“I didn’t realize the importance of this when I was a baby-sitter, like now when I’m a mother,” she said.

Strane has been teaching the Safe Sitters class at Cullman Regional Medical Center for the past 11 years. She now personally knows the importance of being a well prepared and safe sitter.

“We want to start them early so they won’t do things wrong,” she said.

This program is for 11-13 year-olds. It is a two day class that teaches children baby-sitting as a business and teaches things like CPR, safe babysitting measures and what to do when difficult situations arise.

“At least they will have good skills at a young age and will be able to save a life,” Strane said.

“I’m going to use all this knowledge when the baby is born,” 11-year-old Lydia Latham said. She will soon have a new sibling in her house and wants to be prepared.

Lydia said she knows how to perform CPR on anybody, just in case she needs it in the future.

“We also learned stuff like behavioral management — like to leave guns alone,” she said. “You can handle infants crying by rocking them yourself.”

She said the class learned methods to use to keep the child occupied when the parent may be leaving the room.

“You can use ‘magic tricks’ like showing them toys when parents are leaving the room,” she said.

Strane said they discuss safety measures like never using the stove or oven, never giving baths to the children and having a safety word or signal for the parents.

Nicholas Handley, 11-years-old, said the most important thing he learned was CPR.

“I learned that you can handle things yourself and call EMS if you can’t handle it,” he said. “I can handle the minor things and call for help for the big things.”

He was most excited about making money.

“I think it will be good, too because I will get money,” Handley said.

“CPR is the main thing we focused on,” said 11-year-old Peyton Blair. “I learned five magic tricks like distracting a kid who is crying and making chores into games, like making cleaning their room into a game.”

Blair said always have a safety signal with your parents in case of an emergency.

“Have a safety signal with your parents because you always need a backup,” she said.

Ben Ratliff, age 12, has younger siblings that he will use all the things he learned during Safe Sitters.

“I learned what to do if I had to call 911,” he said. “I learned some tricks about keeping them in-line without getting mad.”

After the CPR training, Ben was sure he could help save someone if the situation arose.

“I think I could help save someone if I had to,” he said.

First year Safe Sitter instructor Kami Drake said it is important to teach children baby sitting safety.

“Especially the first aid training,” she said. “It is important for all kids to know it.”

Safe Sitter was founded in 1980 by Patricia A. Keener. It is a medically accurate baby-sitting training program designed to teach younger children about baby-sitting safety. The motto of Safe Sitters is Better Sitters Today. Better Parents Tomorrow.

CRMC has offered Safe Sitters to the Cullman area for more than 15 years through the Women First program.

“A key component of the training focuses on how to handle emergency situations while caring for young children,” said Maria Stanford, marketing director. “In addition, the class teaches students how to keep themselves safe, when and how to call for help and how to understand and deal with children of different ages as well as learning the business aspects of baby-sitting.”

This class will be offered for boys and girls ages 11-13 on July 14 ad 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CRMC in POB II. Cost is $50 for Women First members and $60 for all others. Each student receives a Safe Sitter informational packet and supply kit. Lunch and snacks will be provided. For more information about the program contact CRMC Marketing Department at (256) 737-2600 or register online at www.crmchospital.com.

‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.