Preparing for these odd conditions will ease fears, and help ensure that a baby sitter will respond appropriately in an emergency. If 911 goes down Any New Year's Eve presents special challenges for sitters, said Herrholz, whose Indianapolis-based organization has trained more than 200,000 sitters nationwide over the last 19 years. Noisy celebrations and fireworks may startle young children, holiday decorations and lighting can pose hazards in the home, and a higher volume of drunken drivers on the roadways could turn an ordinary baby-sitting job into a tragedy. If I have a child who's on a piece of asthma equipment and the power goes off, that's more than a minor inconvenience. It's really, really important that there is a responsible adult within walking distance.
Security poses another potential problem for sitters.
Besides locking windows and doors and pulling curtains shut, she recommends turning on all outside lights and having plenty of lights on inside as well. The idea, she said, is to make a house less inviting by using lights or sounds, like a barking dog, for example. Whether your sitter is trained, it's up to you to be prepared for any eventuality, said Kelly Alexander, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross. You want to have all your supplies on hand. Even if the sitter is an adult or a relative, don't assume he or she will know what to do in a crisis.