Eleven youths from Bellbrook and Centerville recently graduated from the Bellbrook Fire Department's SafeSitters program.

During a ceremony held Thursday, May 10, 2001, graduates received certificates and items to help them prepare for emergencies while babysitting.

Firefighter Athena Robbins developed the curriculum and instructed the 16-hour class, which covered everything from first aid and CPR to changing diapers and feeding infants. Also included in the lectures were classes on home fire safety and a section on making sure the home is secure.

"We've tried to put together a class that helps kids learn what they need to begin babysitting," Robbins said.

"Completion of this class will also help ease the parents minds knowing that these kids have been trained to handle extraordinary situations that could possibly arise while babysitting," she added.

Chief Scott Hall was very proud of the success of the first class in the program.

"Being a new sitter can be intimidating," Hall said, "so I'm pleased that we're able to offer a program that will help these kids be better prepared for the challenges that can occur during babysitting."

The SafeSitters program is one of a number of community education programs offered by the department, including CPR and Automated External Defibrillator training.

SafeSitters was funded by the Ohio Emergency Medical Services for Children program, through funding provided by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Local sponsors included the City of Bellbrook, Bellbrook Firefighters' Association, Bellbrook/Sugarcreek Family Resource Center, Christian Light Bookstore, Children's Medical Center, Batteries Plus, Staples, Drug Mart, Winter's Library, Bellbrook Family Practice, PMX Medical, Kroger, Dayton Heart Hospital and Franklin Street Graphics.

Those completing the class were:

• Emily Beeman
• Brittany Boedeker
• Michelle Bush
• Meghan Conroy
• Natalie Gardner
• Amanda Hahn
• Brittany Hall
• Carolyn Hinders
• Heather Hitchman
• Kayleigh Robbins
• Nicole Vitale

Release I01-04