What is Safe Sitter®?

Safe Sitter® is a medically accurate program teaching 11 to 14 year old girls and boys how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children.

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.  You may download an informational brochure on the program being taught at Quincy Valley Medical Center here.  The course at Quincy Valley Medical Center is taught by our Chief Nursing Officer, Sarina Fahrner.  Spanish speaking instructors are available if requested in advance.

What is taught during a Safe Sitter® course?

Over 500,000 Safe Sitter® graduates 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. In the course, participants will also learn the basics of child CPR. 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 rigorous practical and written test to show that they have mastered the key concepts and have the skills necessary to handle an emergency. At the end of the Safe Sitter® program a graduation program will be held for parents to celebrate their child's accomplishment.

How many kids are in a Safe Sitter® course?

There are room for six participants in each Safe Sitter® course.  QVMC will continue to add more courses as needed and will do our best to offer various class times and dates to accommodate as many schedules as possible.

How do I register for a Safe Sitter® course?

To register for a Safe Sitter® course please contact Sarina Fahrner at 509-787-5374.  You will also need to complete the registration form and submit the form with your $45 registration fee to:

QVMC Safe Sitter Program

908 Tenth Avenue SW

Quincy, WA  98848

These forms may be downloaded below:

English Registration Form                     Spanish Registration Form

If the class is full you will be put on a waiting list on a first come, first serve basis for the next available opening.

Are scholarships available for the Safe Sitter® course?

Scholarships are available on a need basis. To download the scholarship application form, please click here. All scholarship requests go through the QVMC site coordinator and should be submitted with your registration form to the address above.

What do I need to bring for the Safe Sitter® course?

If you are taking an all day course, you should plan on bringing a sack lunch. Drinks and a snack will be provided.

Who do I contact regarding questions on the Safe Sitter® program?

At Quincy Valley Medical Center you may contact Michele Wurl at (509) 787-5349. For questions unrelated to the QVMC Safe Sitter® program you may contact Safe Sitter® Headquarters at Safe Sitter, Inc., 8604 Allisonville Road, Suite 248, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1597.

Where is Quincy Valley Medical Center?

Please see the map below for directions to Quincy Valley Medical Center.

Google Map Location Link