Clear starting points for situations that require preparation and attention.

Youth and family safety

Babysitter readiness begins before the parent leaves.

A babysitter should not have to discover essential information during an emergency. Parents and guardians can improve readiness by reviewing the household, the children’s needs, communication expectations, and the limits of the babysitter’s role before care begins. The discussion should match the sitter’s age, experience, training, and comfort level.

Babysitting readiness is not the same as professional childcare licensing or medical training. A young person should be encouraged to ask questions, decline responsibilities they are not prepared to handle, and contact a trusted adult when a situation exceeds their instructions or experience.

• Confirm each child’s name, age, routine, allergies, medical needs, and any activity restrictions.
• Write down parent or guardian contact information and identify a nearby backup adult.
• Know the full home address, apartment or unit number, nearest cross street, and how emergency responders can enter.
• Identify exits, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, first aid supplies, and the safest meeting place outside.
• Review food, medication, bedtime, screen-time, visitor, discipline, and transportation rules.
• Ask about pets, pools, gates, balconies, stairs, firearms, tools, cleaning products, and other household hazards.
• Keep a charged phone immediately available and understand whether texting, calling, or another method is preferred.
• Know when to call a parent or guardian, a backup contact, Poison Control, or 911.

Questions a babysitter should ask

What activities are allowed? Who may visit or pick up the child? Are there foods or medicines that must be avoided? What should happen if the child refuses bedtime, becomes ill, is injured, or asks to leave the home? Is the sitter allowed to take the child outside, use the stove, answer the door, or give medication? Clear answers reduce guesswork and help the sitter follow the family’s expectations.

Parents should also explain what the sitter must not do. A young babysitter should not be expected to perform medical procedures, transport children without proper authorization and restraints, supervise unsafe activities, or manage an emergency alone. When instructions are unclear, the safest next step is often to pause, protect the child from immediate danger, and contact a responsible adult.

Learn about Youth Babysitting and Safety Training

Community planning

Community event safety starts with clear roles and realistic planning.

A small class, youth activity, volunteer project, fundraiser, public meeting, or community event may create responsibilities involving facilities, weather, crowds, food, transportation, children, accessibility, and emergency communication. The organizer should identify who has authority to make safety decisions and who will contact emergency services when necessary.

• Identify the event lead and the people authorized to pause, relocate, or cancel an activity.
• Confirm emergency exits, assembly areas, occupancy limits, and how responders can access the site.
• Keep appropriate First Aid supplies accessible and identify people with current training when available.
• Know the location of the nearest AED and whether it is accessible during the event.
• Maintain essential emergency contact information and a method for communicating with participants.
• Plan for children, older adults, people with disabilities, language needs, and participants who may need assistance.
• Review weather, heat, air quality, traffic, parking, lighting, crowd movement, and site-specific hazards.
• Document significant incidents and follow-up actions without collecting unnecessary private information.

Before participants arrive

Walk through the site, test the planned entry and exit routes, confirm restrooms and accessible paths, locate shutoffs or emergency equipment when relevant, and remove avoidable hazards. Make sure volunteers understand their assignments and know who to contact when they are uncertain. Do not assign medical, security, transportation, or child-supervision duties to someone who is not qualified or prepared.

Outdoor events need a specific plan for heat, rain, wind, smoke, lightning, and other conditions that could affect safety. Identify the source of current weather information and decide in advance who will monitor conditions. Provide water, shade, breaks, or relocation when appropriate, and do not allow schedules or financial concerns to override an immediate safety decision.

Organizations interested in educational events, hosted training, outreach, or shared community projects may review the Community Partnerships page. Partnership discussions do not guarantee that the Foundation can staff, fund, insure, or approve a proposed event.