Monday, March 12, 2012

Kansas City Aupair Safety Meeting



Aupair Safety meeting                       


Kansas City had its March safety meeting Sunday March 11, at the Johnson County Communications center. This is a brand new facility housing a state of the art
9-1-1-call center.

14 Aupairs , the area director and her daughter showed up at the center at 1:30pm. We all met in the lobby and chatted for a while waiting for everyone to get there. Our tour started at 2pm. Heather Beabout, a former Aupair Care host mom is a Kansas deputy and she helped us facilitate the tour. We started the tour with a CPR refresher course given by Sergeant Brenda Gammell. She showed us adult, child and infant CPR and we learned what to do if someone was choking. After this Heather Beabout talked to the group of 9-1-1 calls and showed a short video. We were then able to simulate a 9-1-1 call with Heather. They had phones set up and an aupair would call 9-1-1 with a made up story and Heather would walk them through the call. She also let us know that if the aupair felt her English was not strong enough to ask for an interpreter, they can provide interpreters for most languages. We then concluded with a tour of the 9-1-1-call center and we were able to see the officers at work answering 9-1-1 calls.
            The second part of the tour was at the Olathe fire department. We drove a few miles to the fire station where we got a tour of the building and then a tour of the fire truck where the girls were able to climb in the truck and look at all the gear. Some of the girls were also allowed to try on all the gear that the firemen wear from boots, to Oxygen tank and axes. This seemed to be a high light of the tour. At the end we got a quick lesson in what to do in case of a fire in the home. Always know two ways out of the house, teach small children to stand by an open window and throw their toys out so the firemen can locate them and also have a fire escape plan written out in a visible place in the home.
            The girls enjoyed this meeting and felt like they learned a lot.


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

High School Exchange students

I want to give a shout out to Aupair Care's sister organization Ayusa.
http://www.ayusa.org/

A Connection That Lasts a Lifetime

We believe that one connection has the power to change the world. When you invite an international high school student into your home, you’ll gain a new brother or sister for your child, a son or daughter, a grandchild. The new energy and understanding that fills your home will initiate a ripple effect that extends to the local school, community, and ultimately the world.
As an Ayusa host family, you will offer an open-minded and hardworking high school student the opportunity to:
  • Study in an American high school for 5-10 months
  • Experience a new culture
  • Benefit from the generosity and hospitality of your family
  • Build lifelong friendships
  • Develop language and leadership skills that will serve them throughout their lives
If you are interested in this program please contact me and I will help you get started. I think it is a great opportunity for host family and exchange student.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Stranger Danger

Beware of strangers. How many times have we heard that growing up and I believe now more than ever this is a fact of life.  When you are out and about always keep an eye on the little ones, know where they are at all times. Don't be distracted by texting or calling when out in public and you have little people along. They need your undivided attention. I know it has happened to me where my four year old suddenly is gone. We are at the store and I turn away for one second and she has disappeared. 99% of the time they are either hiding somewhere or got distracted by a cool toy and moved on out of sight. But it can happen so fast so always be aware of your surroundings and the second a child is out of sight go find them. Also talk with your kids about strangers and the importance of not going with someone they do not know even though candy, treats or puppies are offered. I have talked with my kids about what to do if approached by a stranger and I often ask them what would you do. But there is a fine line,, you don't want your kids scared of everyone and everything. The little old lady at the grocery store that just wants to say hello or the man out walking his dog who stops for a quick chat. We need to teach our kids to be aware and careful yet also embrace life and enjoy it and not walk around in constant fear.