Instructor Bulletin

Babysitters Training
ECC 2015 Update and Instructor Training Guidance

Revision Release Date: May 27, 2016

Executive Summary

The American Red Cross is pleased to announce an interim update to the Babysitters Training program to reflect both 2015
ECC scientific changes as well as administrative changes to the program. A complete update to the Babysitters Training
classroom course is currently in development.

The Babysitters Training program is designed to educate young individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to
safely and responsibly give care for children and infants. This training helps participants develop the leadership skills, learn
how to develop a babysitting business, keep themselves and others safe, help children behave, and learn about basic child
care.

There are two core updates to the Babysitters Training Program:

I. Becoming a Babysitting Instructor: Clarification of the Current Options Instructor candidates that want to
become a new Babysitting Instructor, can do so in one of three ways:

I. Complete the free online/self-study Instructor Bridge (times may vary) For current American Red Cross
First Aid/CPR/AED, Lifeguarding, or Emergency Medical Response Instructors
II. Complete the Babysitting Instructors Abbreviated Crossover/Reentry Course (4.5hrs) For instructor
candidates that have an educational and youth training education and/or certifications
III. Complete the Babysitting Instructors Course (9.5hrs) No previous educational or certifications required

Note: There will be no update to the Guide for Training Babysitters Training Instructors. Babysitters Training
Instructor Trainers will need to share the ECC 2015 Update information detailed below when teaching these
courses.

II. ECC 2015 Update to the Babysitters Training Program- Changes include:
I. Babysitters Training Course (HSSCAR201) Replace Recue Breathing (Lesson 6) with Checking a
Responsive and Unresponsive Child or Infant from the 2016 First Aid/CPR/AED Instructors Manual
II. Babysitters Training with Pediatric First Aid/CPR (HSSCAR202) (For use by Babysitting Instructors that
are currently authorized to teach Lay Responder First Aid/CPR/AED courses). An updated outline is being
provided below that guides instructors on the lesson they should use from the 2016 First Aid CPR/AED
program materials in order to teach the First Aid and CPR content in this 9.5 hour course.

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CONFIDENTIAL For American Red Cross Internal Use Only
Clarification of the Current Options for becoming a Babysitting Instructor

Instructor candidates that want to become a new Babysitting Instructors can do so in one of three ways:

I. Complete the free online/self-study Instructor Bridge (times may vary) To qualify for this option, the
instructor candidate must be a currently certified American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED, Lifeguarding, or
Emergency Medical Response Instructor.. Details on using the Babysitting Instructors Bridge are in the
October 2015 Instructor Bridge Instructions

II. Complete the Babysitting Instructor Abbreviated Crossover/Reentry Course (4.5hrs)- Taught by a currently
certified Babysitting Instructor Trainer
To be eligible for the Babysitters Training Instructor Crossover/Re-entry course, the instructor candidate
must meet the following prerequisites:
o Be at least 17 years of age on or before the last scheduled course session;
o Possess one of the following credentials:
Possess a current American Red Cross Instructor certification that does not include the
ability to teach Lay Responder First Aid/CPR/AED courses (such as Water Safety
Instructor, Basic Life Support instructor, etc)
Evidence of a former American Red Cross Babysitters Training Instructor certification
Evidence of a current external credential from one of the following organizations that
shows successful completion of a formal instructor course at the professional level that
focuses on working with youth:
Safe Sitter;
American Heart Association;
YMCA/YWCA;
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.; or
4H Extension.
o Professional educator or teacher (Grades K-12);
o Licensed, registered nurse (RN) or nursing students currently enrolled in a nursing program
leading to licensure as a registered nurse and who have completed one clinical rotation;
o MD or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) who has a background in education; or
o Other, as determined by the Health and Safety Services Administrator (must have training or
instructional process in background).
o Instructor candidates must obtain the Babysitters Training participants set (includes the
handbook, CD-ROM and Emergency Reference Guide)

III. Take the Babysitting Instructors Course (9.5hrs) Taught by a currently certified Babysitting Instructor
Trainer. To be eligible for the Babysitters Training Instructor course, the instructor candidates must
o Be at least 16 years of age on or before the final scheduled session of the instructor course.
o Successfully complete the precourse session. This includes demonstrating competency in the
precourse skills. (See page 2-3 of the precourse session for a listing of these skills.)
o Prior to the precourse session, prospective instructor candidates must obtain the Babysitters
Training participants set (includes the handbook, CD-ROM and Emergency Reference Guide)

Notes:
o There will be no update to the Guide for Training Babysitters Training Instructors. Babysitters Training
Instructor Trainers will need to share the ECC 2015 Update information detailed below with the instructor
candidates when teaching these courses.
o The Babysitters Training Instructor course is no longer offered directly by the Red Cross, but Authorized
Providers (APs) and Licensed Training Providers (LTPs) can continue to offer the instructor courses until a
new Babysitters Training Program is released.

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CONFIDENTIAL For American Red Cross Internal Use Only
ECC 2015 Updates to the Babysitters Training (r.2008) Program

An update to the Babysitters Training Program materials is necessary to encompass ECCU 2015 and current guidelines by
the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. A document for incorporating these changes to the Babysitters Training
Course (HSSCAR201) and Babysitters Training Course with Pediatric First Aid/CPR (HSSCAR201) are available on Instructors
Corner (www.instructorscorner.org/n/caregiving/babysitters-training/).

I. Summary of Changes to the Babysitters Training Course (HSSCAR201)

A Summary of the changes include:
Guidance for updating the Babysitters Training Instructors Manual and replacement pages for the
Babysitters Training Participants Handbook for
o Lesson 6: Its an Emergency Now What?-
Replacement page for Checking a Conscious Child or Infant Skills
Replacement page for Checking an Unconscious Child or Infant Skills
Removal of Rescue Breathing
Removal of Optional Lessons:
o Optional Lesson 7: CPR- Child and Infant This in no longer accurate guidance and should not be
used as an optional lesson
o Optional Lesson 8: First Aid This in no longer accurate guidance and should not be used as an
optional lesson

II. Summary of Changes to the Babysitters Training with Pediatric First Aid (HSSCAR202)
Note: You must be a currently certified American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED, Lifeguarding, or Emergency Medical
Response Instructor

A Summary of the changes include:

Updated pages for both The Babysitters Instructors Manual and Participants Handbook for:
o Lesson 6: Its an Emergency Now What?
Replacement page for Checking the Conscious Child or Infant Skills
Replacement page for Unconscious Child or Infant Skills
Removal of Rescue Breathing
Replacement of the following lessons by using the 2016 First Aid/CPR/AED instructor Manual and First
Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference (Pediatric) card (available at the Red Cross Store or downloadable on
the Instructors Corner. An outline is available that directs the instructor how to substitute lessons from the
First Aid/CPR/AED Instructors Manual
o Lesson 7- CPR- Child and Infant
o Lesson 8- First Aid

American Red Cross Learning Center

The Learning Center can be accessed at https://classes.redcross.org. A user name and password are needed.

Training Support Center

The Training Support Center (TSC) is available 7 days a week and assists instructors with course registration, setting up
training (including blended learning and instructor courses), course record entry, ordering training materials and supplies,
and answering any questions or concerns.

If you need assistance, call the Red Cross Training Support Center (TSC) at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select
the Health and Safety prompt. You may also contact the TSC via email at support@redcrosstraining.org.

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CONFIDENTIAL For American Red Cross Internal Use Only