Tag Archives: safety

Three Ways for Au Pairs to Stay Red Cross Ready

Being knowledgeable in basic first aid and CPR is important for au pairs (and anyone else caring for children). Au Pair in America’s commitment to infant/child safety begins before au pairs arrive to the U.S., with pre-arrival training and continue throughout the au pair year.

#1 Training At Orientation

Our orientation includes seminars by American Red Cross instructors who provide hands-on demonstrations in infant/child CPR and safety. Printed materials are provided that reinforce the safety information and can be used to review from time to time.

#2 Enroll in a Red Cross Certification Class

After settling into their host community, all au pairs are encouraged to complete an Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification program. Au Pair in America will pay for this training through the American Red Cross.

Classes are available through the Red Cross. Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a class providing an au pair has at least six months left on her visa and is taking one of several approved childcare/child safety-related classes, such as Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED. Au pairs should check with their community counselor and host family before signing up. Au Pair in America will register the au pair directly.

To locate a class, visit www.redcross.org/takeaclass. For step-by-step instructions on how to locate a class and have Au Pair in America complete enrollment, click here.

#3 Stay Current on Safety Information

The Official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Available for iPhone and Android devices, this app gives you instant access to the information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice, it’s never been easier to know first aid. Download the app for free from the American Red Cross website or in your app store.

Photos: Robin Leon

Privacy & Personal Information Online

We live in a time of constant sharing through social media. We often share pictures, plans of somewhere we are going or rants about problems, without thinking much about who will see it and what could be the consequences.

Before clicking “post”, stop to think:

  • Am I violating someone’s privacy?
  • Am I sharing personal info. that could put me in danger?
  • Would I want my current or a future employer to see this?

This will help protect your privacy and safety as well as that of your host family. It is important to respect your host family’s privacy and not share personal details and information.  This applies to all kinds of situations, including: personal conversations, email and social websites.

For your own safety, it is a good idea to be careful what personal information you share about yourself as well. You should not give out information like your telephone number and address to people you don’t know. Safer to meet a new friend in a public place, than to give them your address before knowing them.

Once you post something on the internet (even if you later delete it), it can show up elsewhere.  Unless you have specific permission from your host family, you should never post pictures of them, their children or their home on the internet.

If you have a blog or website where you post in your native language, remember there is translation software. So, even if you say it in your native language, be sure it is not something that might be misinterpreted in translation or something you will regret saying.

10 Tips for Summer Safety

  1. Remember to bring along drinks, especially water. Try to get children to drink water every 20 minutes, when they are outside in hot weather.
  2. Pay attention to surfaces that can be hot against children’s skin, such as metal slides and other playground equipment in the sun.
  3. Safety around water is particularly important. A child can drown in just a few inches of water. Whenever you are near water you must never leave a child alone – if the phone rings, take them with you or let it ring! Always stay within arm’s reach when the children are in or near water.
  4. Young babies should be kept out of direct sunlight. Keep the baby in the shade or under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy.
  5. Dress babies in lightweight clothing and use brimmed hats.
  6. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, even if it appears overcast (cloudy).
  7. Try to keep children out of the sun in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
  8. Learn what poison ivy looks like and keep children out of it. A good rule to teach the children is “leaves of three, let it be.”
  9. Use insect repellent spray to keep away mosquitos and ticks. Ask your host parents before applying.
  10. Check for ticks when you bring children in from playing outside, especially if you’ve been in tall grass or the woods.

Photo: Scott97006 (Flickr)

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Preventing Dehydration in Hot Weather

Dehydration means that the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid. Infants and small children are more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly.

Here are some steps to take to make sure children remain hydrated in the summer months:

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. On hot days, children should drink significantly more water than usual, as they are losing more due to the heat.
  • Do not wait until your child is thirsty to give him water. By the time they feel thirsty, they are already becoming dehydrated.
  • If your child is resistant to drinking enough water, have other liquids on hand for your child to drink throughout the day.
  • Be alert to changes in behavior. A child may act confused or more irritable when they are becoming dehydrated/overheated. Get them into cooler temperatures and drinking more fluids.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing in the summer months, particularly if she’ll be playing outdoors in warm weather. You may also consider clothes that are well ventilated as they do not trap heat close to the body.
  • When there are heat and/or air quality advisories because the weather is dangerously hot, you should avoid taking the children outdoors. Check with your host parents for further guidance on this topic.

Remember to follow these tips for yourself too, so you stay well hydrated.

Photo: Darwin Bell (Flickr)

SUMMER SAFETY – IN THE WATER

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  • Learn CPR.
  • Teach your children to swim, but do not assume that this alone will prevent drowning in young children.
  • Never leave young children unattended, even for a minute, in a bathtub, swimming pool, lake, ocean, or stream.
  • Fence all home pools and keep the gate closed and locked.
  • Always wear life preservers when boating, even if you can swim.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol when swimming or boating.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Never dive into water unless you know beforehand how deep it is.
  • Know your limits. Do not over-exert yourself.
  • Avoid standing on wet surfaces or being in water during a lightening storm.
  • Stay out of strong currents.
  • Do not overload your boat. If your boat turns over, stay with the boat until help arrives.

    HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

    HALLOWEEN FUN AND SAFETY!

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    When walking in neighborhoods, children should

    • Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks, and avoid crossing yards.
    • Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks (where they exist), and do not cross between parked cars.
    • Stop at all corners and stay together in a group before crossing.
    • Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant.
    • Consider using face paint instead of masks. (Masks can obstruct a child’s vision.)
    • Avoid wearing hats that will slide over their eyes.
    • Avoid wearing long, baggy, or loose costumes or oversized shoes (to prevent tripping).
    • Be reminded to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.

    Parents and adults should:

    • Supervise the outing for children under age 12.
    • Establish a curfew (a return time) for older children.
    • Prepare homes for trick-or-treaters by clearing porches, lawns, and sidewalks and by placing jack-o-lanterns away from doorways and landings.
    • Avoid giving choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys as treats to young children.
    • Inspect all candy for safety before children eat it.
    • Parents and adults should ensure the safety of pedestrian trick-or-treaters
    • Make sure children under age 10 are supervised as they cross the street.
    • Drive slowly.
    • Watch for children in the street and on medians.
    • Exit driveways and alleyways carefully.
    • Have children get out of cars on the curb side, not on the traffic side.

    And a few tips about pumpkins:

    • Carve pumpkins on stable, flat surfaces with good lighting.
    • Have children draw a face on the outside of the pumpkin, then parents should do the cutting.
    • Place lighted pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lighted pumpkins unattended.

    School Bus Stop Safety

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    School Starts Now – Be Safe at the Bus Stop

    1. Be on time to the bus stop so that you and your host kids get there safely
    2. Walk and hold hands to the stop
    3. Stand on the sidewalk or the the grass, not in the street
    4. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before the children walk to the door
    5. Let the bus driver open the door, do not push it, wait
    6. Remind the children to sit on the bus and not stand, if there are seat belts, tell them to put them on.
    7. Let the bus leave before you do, just in case there is a problem
    8. Be at the afternoon return bus stop in plenty of time, before it comes
    9. The driver is not allowed to let small children off the bus unless someone greets them, so if you are not there the children will be taken back to school.  BE THERE.
    10. The bus driver will not leave until you are safely on your side of the street, so if you need to cross the street, do it in front of the bus!!

    SAFE DRIVING IN WINTER WEATHER

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    Winter Driving Tips
    You are likely to find ice and snow on the roads in many parts of the country. There are some basic rules to remember to stay safe in the car in difficult driving conditions:

    • Start early and take your time.
    • Accelerate slowly, especially on hills
    • Drive slowly to avoid having to stop while going up a hill, as it will be hard to start again.
    • Don’t make any sudden turns or stops.
    • Be sure that the mirrors and windows are always free of snow and ice.
    • If you skid, try to steer in the direction the car is sliding to regain control.
    • The changes in temperature sometimes cause potholes in the streets. If you don’t see the pothole in time to steer around it, apply the brakes before hitting the pothole and release them just before you reach the pothole. If you keep the brake on as you hit the pothole, it will do more damage to the tire.
    • Try to keep your gas tank at least half full.
    • If your wheels spin on ice, switch to low gear, even on automatics.
    • Leave extra space between you and the car in front of you.
    • Remember that bridges and exit ramps are icier than roads.
    • Ask what kind of brakes your car has and how to use them in case of a skid.

    Au Pairs help children stay safe for Halloween


    1. Make sure to inspect the children’s Trick Or Treat candy to make sure everything is in a sealed wrapper and appears safe.
    2. Small children should not eat hard candy because of chocking.
    3. Children should be supervised when they go Trick-or-Treating.  Many parents will come home early from work on the day to go with their children.  Check with Host Parents about this.