The program is available in all 50 states and in England and Israel. Formore information, go to this Web site: 
Dr. Patricia Keener had a busy day before Thanksgiving. When she stuffed the turkey is anybody's guess. Making an appearance on the NBC TodayShow Nov. 26 can put a crimp in anyone's holiday planning.
Keener, a professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School ofMedicine and director of the IU Section of General and CommunityPediatrics, as well as chief of pediatrics for Wishard Health Services, is also founder and medical director of Safe Sitter, Inc., a national, nonprofit program for training teenage sitters.
| Low birth numbers in the late 1970s and early 1980s have resulted in fewer older teens at the same time the number of children younger than 10 has increased. |
The recent trial and conviction of a teenage au pair on a manslaughtercharge has led to a new focus on the problem of finding competent childcare- givers. On the program, Keener discussed problems associated withhiring an appropriate teenaged babysitter. Her appearance was on thesecond day of a two-day series revolving around the shortage of teenagesitters.
The series was prompted by a recent Washington Post article detailing thedemographic changes that have led to a shortage of teen sitters.Thearticle discussed how low birth numbers in the late 1970s and early1980s have resulted in fewer older teens at the same time the number ofchildren younger than 10 has increased. In addition to the Washington Post(Sept. 22), Safe Sitter was featured in U.S. Kids' September issue, and theNovember issues of both Parents Magazine and Chicago Parent.
A result of the dilemma is that the short supply of older sitters, coupledwith increased demand, creates an environment where parents aretempted to hire young sitters without appropriate knowledge or skills,Keener said.
Since 1980, when Keener taught the first Safe Sitter class inIndianapolis, more than 150,000 young teens have participated in the twoday training course. The course teaches first aid and airway rescue skills,in addition to child-care techniques and safety precautions.
The program is available in all 50 states and in England and Israel. Formore information, go to this Web site:
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