Parks & Rec Dept. offering safety courses for kids

The Canton Parks and Recreation Department is offering two new safety courses for kids during the month of January.

Both courses, Home Alone Safety and Babysitter Lessons & Safety Training (BLAST), will be run by Juanita Allen Kingsley, director of business development for Century Health Systems, the parent company of the Natick Visiting Nurse Association and Distinguished Care Options.

Home Alone Safety, which is open to children ages 9-11, will be held on January 12 from 4-6 p.m. at the Armando Recreation Center. The course teaches children telephone- and door-answering techniques, internet safety, accident and fire protection, and first aid techniques. Attendees will also receive tips on managing their time when home alone for short periods of time. The class includes a variety of teaching methods and includes a video and role playing. The cost to participate is $50 for Canton residents and $60 for non-residents.

The BLAST Babysitter course, which is open to kids ages 11-13, is a program of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Participants will learn the basics of infant and childcare, how to react responsibly to medical emergencies and injuries, perform first aid for common childhood injuries and illnesses, and set up and run their own babysitting business. There will be two sessions offered: January 19 from 3-6 p.m. and January 26 from 3-6 p.m., both at the Armando Recreation Center. The cost for either session is $55 for residents and $65 for non-residents.

A health educator, Kingsley trains more than 2,000 people in the MetroWest region annually through her First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, CPR and AED classes in addition to the variety of health and safety programs she teaches. A certified EMT since 2001, she managed the Wellness Center at Hale Reservation, the nation’s largest day camp; served as health care supervisor at Horizons for Youth in Sharon; and has served as instructor trainer and instructor with the Red Cross, American Heart Association, Medic First Aid, and the National Safety Council. She received her Wilderness EMT training certification through Mountain Aid Training International.

Registration for both courses is required and can be completed at www.cantonrec.com. For more information, contact Assistant Recreation Director Nick Pirelli at 781-821-5030.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Dec 31 2015. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.