The Delta Dispatch
How Babysitters Can Handle Emergencies: When to Call 911 and What to Do
Emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and as a babysitter, knowing how to respond quickly is essential. One of the most important skills is knowing when to call 911. Whether it’s a child choking, having a seizure, or becoming unconscious, your quick action could save a life. It’s crucial to always know the address of the home you’re babysitting at, as this information can help emergency responders reach you faster. Remember, better to call 911 and not need them than to not call and need them—911 call-takers are there to guide you through the process and ensure help arrives as quickly as possible. Stay calm, stay prepared, and always trust your instincts when it comes to emergencies.
Emergencies can happen at any time, and when you're babysitting, it’s important to know how to respond quickly. Whether you're watching kids at home, looking after younger siblings, or taking care of someone else’s children, you have to be prepared for anything. Knowing when and how to call 911 is especially important because your quick action could save a life.
In this blog, we'll talk about common emergencies, how to stay calm, and why knowing your address and how to call 911 is so critical.
Why It’s So Important to Know How to Call 911
As a babysitter, you might be the first person to handle an emergency. If something happens—a child gets hurt, gets sick, or something else goes wrong—you might need to call 911 for help.
One of the most important things to remember when calling 911 is knowing where you are. If you can’t tell the dispatcher your address, it can delay help. That means it’s crucial to always know the address of the home where you’re babysitting, including the apartment number if applicable. Make sure you have this info handy in case you need it quickly!
When to Call 911: What Counts as an Emergency?
Some situations can be handled with basic first aid, but others are more serious and require immediate help. Here are some examples of when you need to call 911 without hesitation:
1. The Child is Unconscious or Not Responding
If the child or anyone you’re caring for becomes unresponsive, it’s a big emergency. If they’re not waking up, won’t talk, or are just unresponsive, you need to get help right away.
What to Do:
Check if the child is breathing. If they are not breathing or are gasping, call 911 immediately. If you're trained in CPR, you may be able to help the child before emergency responders arrive.
If they are breathing but still unconscious, gently lay them on their side (recovery position) and call 911 right away.
2. Serious Bleeding
If the child has a large cut or wound that won’t stop bleeding, that’s a serious emergency. You need to stop the bleeding and get help right away.
What to Do:
Apply a clean cloth or bandage to the wound and press down to stop the bleeding.
If the wound is really deep, or you can’t stop the bleeding, call 911 and keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.
3. Choking
Choking is a life-threatening emergency, especially if the child can’t breathe or speak. If you are trained in back blows and abdominal thrusts, you should perform these techniques as you were taught. If the child becomes unconscious, you should immediately call 911.
What to Do:
If you are trained in abdominal thrusts and back blows (to help expel the object blocking their airway), perform these techniques as you’ve been taught.
If the child becomes unconscious, call 911 immediately. If you are trained to save a choking person, you have a good chance of saving them.
Keep performing your life-saving techniques until the child can breathe or emergency help arrives.
4. Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)
Severe allergic reactions (also known as anaphylaxis) can cause swelling in the throat and make breathing difficult. Common triggers include bee stings, food allergies (like peanuts), or certain medications.
What to Do:
If the child has an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), use it right away.
Then, call 911 immediately to get professional help.
5. Seizures
If the child has a seizure, especially if they’ve never had one before, you should call 911. This is important because first-time seizures can be a sign of something serious, and even if the seizure doesn’t last long, it’s better to get medical help.
What to Do:
Move objects out of the way to prevent injury.
Gently cushion their head and lay them on their side if possible.
If the child has never had a seizure before, or if it lasts more than a minute, call 911 right away.
6. Trouble Breathing or Chest Pain
If the child is having trouble breathing, or complains of chest pain, these could be signs of a serious medical condition like a heart attack or a severe asthma attack.
What to Do:
Help them sit up and stay calm.
If they have an inhaler, help them use it.
If they are still having trouble breathing or in pain, call 911 immediately.
How to Call 911: What You Need to Tell Them
When you call 911, it’s important to speak clearly and calmly. Here’s what to do:
1. Know Your Address
You must know the address where you're babysitting, including the street name, apartment number (if applicable), and any nearby landmarks. Make sure you have this info written down or memorized before the emergency happens so you can give it to 911 right away.
2. Speak Clearly
When you’re panicked, it can be hard to talk clearly. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and explain what’s going on as best as you can. Tell the dispatcher the emergency, the condition of the child, and the address where help is needed.
3. Describe the Situation
Tell the dispatcher what happened and the child’s condition. For example:
“The child is unconscious and not breathing.”
“They’re choking on food and can’t breathe.”
4. Follow the Dispatcher’s Instructions
The dispatcher might give you advice on what to do while you wait for emergency help to arrive. Listen carefully and do your best to follow their instructions.
5. Stay on the Line
Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you it's okay. They may need more information or updates as emergency responders get closer.
When in Doubt, Call 911
If you're ever unsure whether something is an emergency, it’s always better to call 911. Better to call and not need them than to not call and need them. 911 call-takers are there to help and guide you through the situation. They won’t judge you for calling and are trained to assist you no matter what the emergency is. Trust your instincts—if you feel the child’s health or safety is at risk, don’t hesitate to call for professional help.
Conclusion: Be Prepared, Stay Calm, and Get Help
Babysitting comes with a lot of responsibility. Emergencies can happen quickly, but being prepared can make all the difference. The key is staying calm, knowing when to call 911, and having the information you need to guide emergency responders.
At Delta Emergency Support Training, we offer Red Cross Babysitting courses that cover all the important topics you need to be ready for anything. Our course is taught by paramedics and includes one session on caring for babies and another session dedicated to babysitter first aid, where you’ll learn life-saving techniques like CPR, how to handle injuries, and what to do in different emergency situations. You’ll leave our course with the skills and confidence to handle any emergency that comes your way.
When to Call 911: A Guide for Babysitters
Being a babysitter can be both rewarding and challenging, especially when it comes to keeping children safe in emergency situations. As a babysitter, you are responsible for the well-being of the children in your care, and knowing when to call 911 can be a matter of life and death.
In this guide, we will walk you through the common emergency situations that you may encounter as a babysitter and provide you with practical tips on how to handle them. From injuries and illnesses to fires and natural disasters, we'll cover it all so that you can be prepared for any situation.
By the end of this guide, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to act quickly and appropriately in the event of an emergency, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in your care.
As a babysitter, one of your most important responsibilities is keeping the children you're caring for safe and healthy. While you may take steps to prevent accidents and injuries, emergencies can still happen, and it's important to know when to seek emergency medical attention. In some situations, calling 911 could mean the difference between life and death. But how do you know when to call for help?
babysitter and a child sitting on a rug in a living room. The babysitter is holding a Jenga tower, and the child is carefully removing a wooden block from the tower.
In this blog post, we'll provide a guide for babysitters on when to call 911, including common emergencies that require immediate attention, and tips for staying calm and responding quickly in an emergency situation. By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that the children you're caring for stay safe and healthy, no matter what emergencies may arise.
In the following sections, we'll discuss some of the most common emergencies that may arise while babysitting, and the situations where you should call 911 for immediate medical attention.
Difficulty breathing:
If the child is having difficulty breathing, it could be a sign of a serious respiratory issue, such as asthma or anaphylaxis. If the child is struggling to breathe, has trouble speaking or swallowing, or their lips or face turn blue, call 911. It is good practice as a babysitter to know how to administer an EPI-PEN for sever allergic reactions. Ventolin, often referred to as a puffer can also drastically improve the breathing of a patient who is experiencing a asthma attack.
Loss of consciousness:
If the child becomes unconscious, it's important to call 911. Stay with the child and follow the operator's instructions until help arrives. Keep the child's airway open by lifting the head and tilting the chin back. Check their breathing and pulse, if none is found begin compressions as per the dispatch instruction or previous first aid training.
Severe bleeding:
The first step in controlling bleeding is to apply direct pressure to the wound. Use a clean cloth or bandage and apply firm direct pressure. If the child has severe bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure or soaks through multiple bandages, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help to arrive, continue to apply direct firm pressure to the wound.
Head injury:
If the child hits their head and loses consciousness, vomits, or has seizures, call 911 immediately. Keep the child still and comfortable, avoid moving them unless it's necessary. Moving the child could worsen the injury especially if there is a suspected spinal injury, which may lead to further complications. With all trauma continue to monitor their breathing and update dispatch if anything changes.
Choking:
If the child is choking and cannot breathe, cough, or speak, your first step is to use a combination of 5 abdominal thrusts and 5 back blows, switching between the two, to dislodge the object. If the child becomes unconscious carefully lay them to the ground, call 911 immediately and begin following CPR instructions. A small child may only be able to hold their breath for 30seconds - 1minute, being prepared to call 911 is always good practice.
Seizures:
If the child has a seizure, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help to arrive, clear the area around the child to prevent injury, and do not try to restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Follow directions given by dispatch.
Allergic reactions:
If the child is experiencing an allergic reaction and has difficulty breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, or other severe symptoms, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help to arrive, administer any prescribed medication (such as an epinephrine auto-injector) and keep the child calm.
Poisoning:
If you suspect the child has ingested a poisonous substance, call 911 or poison control immediately. While waiting for help to arrive, try to determine what the child ingested, and if possible, remove any remaining substance from the child's mouth.
Burns:
If the child has a severe burn, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help to arrive, run cool (not cold) water over the affected area for at least 10-20 minutes, and cover the area with a clean, dry cloth or sterile bandage.
Be prepared:
Before starting a babysitting job, make sure you have all the information you need about the children you will be caring for. This includes things like their ages, any medical conditions, and any specific instructions from the parent. Make sure you have a contact number for the parents in case of an emergency.
Stay focused:
When you're caring for children, it's important to stay focused on their needs. Keep an eye on them at all times, and avoid distractions like your phone or television.
Know basic first aid:
Take a child care first aid class or watch online tutorials to learn basic first aid skills such as CPR and how to stop bleeding.
Know your location:
Make sure you know your location and address so that you can provide it to emergency services when you call 911.
By following these tips, you can provide safe and responsible care for the children you're babysitting.
We offer a variety of resources to help you provide excellent care for the children in your charge, including babysitter courses that cover important topics like child development, safety, and communication. These courses are designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to provide top-notch care for children.
In addition, it's essential to know when to call 911 in an emergency situation. If you are ever in doubt about whether or not to call, it's always better to err on the side of caution and make the call. Some situations that may require calling 911 include medical emergencies, fires, and instances of criminal activity. If you have any questions or concerns about when to call 911, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@deltaemergency.com. We're here to support you and the children in your care.