Make sure that you get the following information from the parents before they leave, and keep this information on you, so that in case you have to leave the home immediately you have this with you at all times.

1. Telephone number where you can reach the parents. It is a good idea to save that phone number into your cell phone.
2. Address of the house where you are babysitting.
3. Location of where the parents will be at.

Cooking:

Cooking accidents are one of the main causes of burn injuries to children.

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Children may grab them and spill hot food onto them.
• If you have a stove fire, never use water to extinguish the fire. Always smother a a grease fire by putting the lid back on the pot, or use baking soda or a fire extinguisher to put the fire out.
• Never allow children to handle hot liquids.
• If you have a stove or oven fire, and even if you extinguish that fire.

Always call the Fire Department. You may think the fire is out, but fire can get into spaces like the attic and smolder there for hours before it’s noticed. Let the Fire Department respond and do their job.

Bathing Children:

• Never allow children to run their own bath water and always test the water before they get in it, to make sure the water is not too hot.
• Do not leave any child alone in bathtub, even if it is only for a short time. Children can turn the water back on and scald themselves and they can drown. These accidents are always avoidable. It only takes one second to severely scald a child or for a child to drown.

If a Fire Breaks Out:

• STAY CALM. Get all of the children out of the house as quickly and calmly as possible.
• Call the Fire Department from a safe location. Answer all of the questions that the Fire Department Dispatcher asks you before hanging up.
• Never return to the inside of the home.