Babysitting is a serious job.

• Position: Your Life

Caring for someone else's child is the way thousands of stay-at-home mothers, retirees, empty nesters, and teenagers make a living. Yet, many of those who watch other people's kids aren't trained in basic first aid and emergency care, including infant or child CPR. "Parents need to know that the babysitter--no matter what their age--is prepared for any emergency that might arise in their absence," stresses Ralph M. Shenefelt, general manager of the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI), a first aid training and safety organization dedicated to designing and delivering programs in health, safety, and emergency medical care. "While experience is important, it's not enough mat someone has been watching children for years or that they have raised their own children. People who watch children should be professionally trained to deal with medical emergencies."

The sitter should have knowledge of such things as basic locale--where your house is in relation to certain landmarks. (Remember, the sitter watching children in your home might not be very familiar with the neighborhood.) He or she should be given updated emergency contact information, a list of the child's allergies (particularly to any foods), and general home safety measures (such as the placement of exit doors, tire extinguishers, and flashlights, in the event of a power outage in your home).

"ASHI also recommends that the babysitter have certification in CPR, particularly infant/child CPR, and be trained in basic first aid," Shenefelt states. "Not only does this equip the person with knowledge of proper procedures, but it can also help reduce the sense of panic that can occur when a child is injured." He indicates that parents should feel completely comfortable requesting this of present or potential babysitters. The experts at the American Safety and Health Institute offer the following tips to would-be babysitters:

* Before the parents leave, make sure to have all the important information. If they have not put it together, it is your responsibility to ask for it. Get work, cell phone, and beeper numbers--you can never have too many places to call. Add local emergency numbers, such as tire, police, or poison control to the list.

* Show each child he or she is special. The more time and attention you show the youngster...