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Sitting Safely Page 3 BY KATHY JOHNSON © Copyright 1999 by Parents' Press If an emergency happens, call for help. You should not try to be a fireman, police officer, or doctor. A sitter should never put herself in a situation where she won't be able to call for help. Plan back-up transportation in case something goes wrong. Even when sitting down the street, a teen should always have an escort home after dark. Never ride with a person who has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs. If the parents have been drinking or using drugs (even flu and cold remedies can affect a person's driving ability), use that back-up transportation. Once when I was sitting, the parents returned over an hour late and had been drinking. The father was too friendly, begging me to stay and offering more money. I called my parents and never sat for that couple again. Let someone know right away if anyone behaves inappropriately to you. It is never your fault if an adult behaves inappropriately. Adults are responsible for their own actions. If an adult is behaving in a scary way, it is okay to say no and ask the adult to stop. Call immediately for help if the adult persists after being told to stop. Use natural consequences with the adult just as you would with children. If behavior requires police intervention, the adult made that choice, knowing what inappropriate behavior can and should result in! Just knowing these tips builds your confidence in your ability to baby-sit safely. Kathy Johnson writes children's stories and technical material as well as non-fiction. She teaches "Baby-sitting Basics" at a community center and leads a 4H baby-sitting project, both in the Campbell, California area. Comments about this article? Send us an e-mail and we'll add your remarks to the feedback page.