Millions of Kids Home Alone After School
Safe@Home Provides Students with Important Safety Training
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Afterschool Alliance, 11.3 million children head to empty homes at the end of the school day. Safe Sitter's Safe@Home is a new 90-minute program designed for students in grades 4-6 to provide them with the safety training that will help them be prepared to stay home alone.
Safe@Home provides instruction on staying safe inside the house, outside the house, online, and with others. However, preteens mature at their own pace and parents need to make sure they're ready for the responsibility before they leave their child home unsupervised.
"Only a student's parents can make that decision," said Safe Sitter® Executive Director Barbara Stuckwisch. "However, Safe@Home will help students learn how to practice safe habits, how to handle common household emergencies, and who should treat illnesses and emergencies."
As with all Safe Sitter® programs, Safe@Home has an emphasis on injury prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control:
- Today, 25 children will die from an unintentional injury;
- This week, 1 child will die from choking on food;
- This month, 18,750 children will be admitted for an injury; and
- This year, 8.7 million children will be treated for an injury in the ER.
Any adult who enjoys teaching young teens may teach Safe@Home, including teachers, nurses, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop leaders, youth group leaders, or parent volunteers. Interested adults may visit safesitter.org/safe-at-home for more information on the program and how to purchase it. The program includes a facilitator's guide with instructions and scripts to use in teaching.
Safe Sitter, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing life skills, safety skills, and child care training in order to build safe communities. Safe Sitter® programs teach young teens the skills they need for when they are home alone, watching young siblings, or babysitting.
Safe Sitter, Inc. was founded in 1980 by Patricia A. Keener, M.D. For more information, visit safesitter.org.
Contact:
Jennifer Seward
[email protected]
317.596.5001
SOURCE Safe Sitter, Inc.
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