In my own recent search for childcare, I investigated several options to make sure hosting an au pair was right for our family.  After several years as an Area Director, I was pretty sure it was the perfect option for us, but when it came down to it, I needed to be certain.  As we looked into other types of care, I was surprised to see that the topic of safety was not always addressed – or at least as fully as I would have liked!  Au Pair Care’s new SafetyCare program gives au pairs CPR and First Aid training, as well as basic information on household safety.  This was one of the many reasons we knew the program was right for us.

As much as we liked the SafetyCare benefit of the program when searching, I have not thought about it since Mia arrived - until recently.  Earlier this week, my 2 ½ year old son fell off the couch while reaching after one of our cats and fell directly onto his face.  From what my 6 year old son and Mia say, I am glad I did not see it – his nose and mouth immediately started bleeding profusely!  Lucky for us, Mia was trained to know just what to do.  She stopped the bleeding, looked for cuts and loose teeth, and watched him for signs of a concussion over the next few hours.  Once he was calm and she knew he would be okay, she sent me a quick text to let me know what had happened and how she had handled it.

Like most 2 year olds, our little guy was back to his normal (though bruised and bloodied!) self within minutes.  What has stuck with me, however, is how well Mia handled the situation.   Later, as we deconstructed the what had happened, Mia said that while it was scary, she remembered from her training how important it was to stay calm and in control.  As I am sure you can imagine, the entire event gave me even more confidence in her ability to care for our children, and showed me yet again how important good safety training is.

There are over 20 bikes in my garage and six people in my house. All three kids ride, and have since preschool. Our au pairs have come to us with varying bike skills. Most are road-savvy riders, but some have had a steeper learning curve. We always provide a bike and a little training on riding in the US. If we can ride instead of drive places, we do. These days, the price of gas is motivation enough to run errands by bike. 

Most countries are more bike-friendly than America. We're big and spread out and our public transportation doesn't support cycling as an efficient mode of transportation. In countries like the Netherlands and China where driving is expensive and roads are crowded, most houses have more bikes than people. 

Still, most of us would like a lifestyle where a weekend bike ride or trip to the farmers market and local coffee shop, isn't all that complicated. Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Everyone wears a helmet. This is a tough one for au pairs from countries where it's not legally required, but it's not an option here. Helmets made by bike companies are lighter and more comfortable than those made by toy companies.

2. Bike trailers are steadier than seats mounted on the bike frame. If you're worried about tipping over, try a trailer. Remember that it is wider than your bike, so make sure you have space on the road.

3. Rear mounted bike seats allow your child to talk to you, kick you in the hamstrings, and tickle your back. They love this! However, panniers or bike bags may not fit on the rack with the seat.

4. Front mounted bike seats can affect steering and may be uncomfortable, depending on your preferred bike posture. Your child can actually see where they're going though, instead of looking at your back, and they can't kick you.

5. Trail-a-bikes are a fantastic way to take a family ride at a faster pace, but take a trial run first. They can be wobbly until you get the hang of it. Kids also need to be mature enough to stay on the bike until you stop (I learned this the hard way). They can pedal if they like, or relax and let you do all the work.

It's a fun way to get outside. So, even if we can't ride everywhere, we can ride somewhere. Enjoy the ride!

AuPairCare's new SafetyCare is being kicked-off with National Safety Month this March.  All Area Directors across the nation are holding safety training sessions for their au pairs in addition to the safety training the au pairs receive prior to arrival, at Au Pair Academy, and through other ongoing initiatives by AuPairCare.

It is very informative to hear about the different training sessions Area Directors are planning. 

One Area Director in northern Virginia is holding asession with a police officer and a Department of Homeland Security official.  The group will run through different scenarios that au pairs encounter and hold a contest to see who has the best answer for the scenarios.  Some of the scenarios are: 

• An au pair is driving and hears the phone beep that a text message came in.  He thinks it may be a very important message that needs to be checked right away.  What do I do?
• An au pair is at their host family's house tending a baby and one other host child when the house begins to shake...is it an earthquake???  What do I do?
• An au pair is at the community pool with her three host children.  All of the host children are happily swimming, when one of them swims over to her, and says that she needs to go to the bathroom.  What do I do?

Here are some more training sessions that Area Directors are having:

• In Bucks County, PA, au pairs will participate in a “Safe Kids” presentation on home and playground safety from the trauma prevention coordinator at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
• In Jacksonville, FL, au pairs will meet with a local physician’s assistant who will present the most common household accidents and tips for child-proofing a home.
• In Kansas City, KS, au pairs will meet with members of the local police station to discuss topics related to CPR training and the importance of 911.

In addition to your au pair receiving safety training from AuPairCare, it is important that your au pair knows how you want a situation handled.  Go over situations that may occur in your area, home, or vehicle and explain to your au pair how you want the situation handled.  For some guidance, here are some websites that may help you:

• http://www.safekids.org
• http://www.nsc.org/Pages/Home.aspx
• http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/kidsandbikesafetyweb/
• http://www.ncagr.gov/cyber/kidswrld/foodsafe/
• http://www.safetycops.com/stranger_danger.htm
• http://www.sids.org/

My kids are competing for most trips to the ER and my nine-year-old daughter is winning with four:  one dislocated elbow, one concussion, stitches, and a 104.5 fever. My middle son has the most calls to poison control (six -- WHY would anyone eat kitty litter?) and my oldest wins for the most serious injury -- falling off a bunkbed full of boys and breaking his arm.  

Having spent a fair amount of time in the ER, I've learned a few things that can make your trip a little more comfortable.

1. Don't feed your child before you go. It may seem like a good idea if you think you'll have to wait a while, but if he or she needs surgery, you will sit around for nine or ten hours for the food to digest.  

2.  Call ahead. Most ERs will give you an approximate wait time. If they know you're coming with a sick baby or child, you may get priority. 

3.  Bring a book, a toothbrush, a snack for you, and maybe a blanket.  Wear something comfortable. You could be there a while.

4.  Ask for a surgical specialist for your child's specific injury. For a broken arm, you want an arm and hand surgeon, not a joint replacement surgeon. If your child has to get stitches on his or her face, ask for a plastic surgeon. (My daughter got stitches at the Orange County ER from a pediatric plastic surgeon-- only in Los Angeles!)

5. Ask lots of questions. What is covered by insurance? What needs to happen now? What can wait until you see your pediatrician? When will test results be available? What follow up should you expect to need?

6. Chill out. What is scary to you is what the ER staff deals with every day. If it's worrisome to them, they'll expedite it quickly. Advocate, but remember this is their job.

7. Lastly, have patience and be polite to the staff. If it's taking a long time, maybe there's someone with a life-threatening injury who needs care first. And there's probably someone in line behind you who also needs the room, so you can assume the ER staff is getting you the care you need as quickly as they can.

No matter how many precautions you take, accidents are a part of life. Fortunately, most of the time, your child will be on the mend quickly.