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South Florida Baptist Hospital Offers Safe Sitter® Classes 10/23/2009 South Florida Baptist Hospital is among hundreds of organizations across the country offering Safe Sitter® babysitting training classes. The medically accurate program teaches 11- to 13-year-old girls and boys how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children. The next classes will be held: Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place, Plant City Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., The Palmetto Club Conference Room at FishHawk Ranch, 17004 Dorman Rd., Lithia Dr. Patricia Keener, an Indianapolis pediatrician, developed the Safe Sitter program after a colleague’s toddler choked to death while in the care of an adult sitter who didn’t know what to do. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children. The goal of Safe Sitter is to reduce the number of avoidable and unintentional deaths among children being cared for by adolescent babysitters. More than 450,000 Safe Sitter graduates nationwide have learned how to handle life threatening emergencies, how to keep themselves safe, when and how to call for help, and how to understand and deal with children of different ages. They even learn about the business aspects of babysitting. Safe Sitters are more confident and capable caregivers. To successfully complete the Safe Sitter program, students must pass a practical and written test to show that they have mastered the key concepts and have the skills necessary to handle an emergency. The cost of the class is $50. For more information or to register, call (813) 754-4444.