Babysitting is a great first job for teens, but as many know, it’s not simply a matter of having fun and making sure that meals are eaten and homework gets done. In case of emergencies, or even just small mishaps, Tri-Town Youth Services (TTYS) is offering a Babysitter Training and CPR Certification course for youth aged 12 to 17, administered through the American Heart Association (AHA).

“It’s been offered for at least five years,” said TTYS Director Allison Abramson. “AHA affiliate A Second Chance from Durham comes in and does the whole thing. We offer it a couple times a year in the spring and fall, and it usually takes up four Monday evenings. The summer course we do over two days, but for longer hours.”

While the courses are open to anyone in the age range, Abramson said they’ve structured the course around a specific target.

“These are geared toward teens who want to start to babysit. They learn how to start caring for little ones, what to do in different situations, when to call the parents, when it’s an emergency. They also get tips for starting a small business,” said Abramson. “The people who run it open up time for questions, it’s a mixture of video, discussion, and hands on training.

“It gives them extra confidence. They are prepared should there be an emergency, and have real skills to apply. It makes both them and parents more comfortable,” said Abramson.

Lilly Glaski is 12 years old, and about to make the jump from Essex Elementary School to John Winthrop Middle School. She took the course this past spring.

“I took it so that if a friend or someone needs me to babysit I can do a good job,” said Glaski. “I learned when to call 911, when I can handle it myself, and when to call the parents. I did feel confident and ready after the course. One of the things I learned that I didn’t know is that you only need two inches of water to drown, so you can’t leave a baby alone in a bath tub. I also learned CPR and pediatric first aid.

“There was a lot of hands-on stuff, not just watching a video,” said Glaski. “They made sure that everyone was comfortable, and did it [the training exercises] with you.”

After her experience, Glaski said she plans on recertifying in two years.

“Lots of people don’t know these things, but, if there was a situation where they needed to know these things, they would be able to help,” said Glaski. “People who are old enough should really think about doing it if they want to babysit.”

In addition to their certification, teens who participate in the course are urged to also sign up for TTYS’s job bank.

“We use the job bank to match local employers and teens. So, teens apply to it, and we can put down on it that they have this training. People or employers who are looking for someone to help them also sign up for the job bank, and fill out an application,” said Abramson. “It keeps the teens busy and earning a little money, and learning new skills.”

To register for the summer certification class, express interest for the fall class, or to find out about renewing a CPR certification, stop by Tri-Town Youth Services (56 High Street, Deep River) or call 860-526-3600. The course fee is $75 and includes instruction, books, and the certificate. Certification is good for two years. Recertification costs $35.