Saturday, June 30, 2012

Why Get a Babysitter Certification?

Many teens today want to use babysitting as a tool to earn money after school and on weekends. However, parents can be quite hesitant of hiring someone to watch their young children when they are away if that person has not had proper training. Parent concerns range from home safety, safe food handling, appropriate play activities to proper etiquette of the babysitter.


The ideal place for teens to be educated on all these topics is a Babysitter Certification Course. These courses should teach students how to handle infants (including bottle handling & how to change a diaper), appropriate playtime activities for children of different ages. The course should also educate students of how to be saver in a home when no adults are present (topics such as opening the door to strangers and answering phone calls). Most courses also cover topics such as cleaning up after yourself, being respectful of the home they are in.


Most importantly, these courses should teach students basic first aid and how to handle emergencies. It is important for babysitters be able to handle the bumps and bruises children often get, as well as be able to recognize an emergency. 


Many certification courses will teach teens how to handle their babysitting as a business. Educate them on how to document babysitting appointments, how to handle payments and how to market themselves to build a good base of customers.


Most Babysitting Certification courses do not include CPR/AED Certifications. This certification is just as vital as the Babysitting Certification. If you are looking for a course that is ideal for you teen, make sure you find one that includes the CPR certification. Being certified in CPR/AED can simply mean the difference between life and death in some situations. This additional certification will place your teen above all other babysitters in the area. This certification give parents confidence that their babysitter can handle emergencies of all types. Plus, by having the additional certification that is not required, it shows parents that this babysitter takes their responsibilities seriously and went the extra steps to further educate themselves.


So before your teen tries to build their customer base, make sure they are prepared as well as very marketable with a Babysitter Certification and CPR/AED Certification.


For more information, please visit our website:
Babysitter Certification Class

Monday, June 11, 2012

Myths about Cardiovascular Disease

Top 10 Myths about Cardiovascular Disease (from American Heart Association)

How much do you really know about your heart’s health? It’s easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or do you know the real truth – that heart disease can affect people of any age, even those who eat right?

Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to your heart. Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease. But you can boost your heart smarts by separating fact from fiction. Let’s set the record straight on some common myths.

“I’m too young to worry about heart disease.” How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. Even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems – especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age.

“I’d know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs.” High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don’t wait for your body to alert you that there’s a problem. The way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers with a simple blood pressure test. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems. rn how high blood pressure is diagnosed.

“I’ll know when I’m having a heart attack because I’ll have chest pain.” Not necessarily. Although it’s common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling lightheaded, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn you risk of heart attack today!

“Diabetes won’t threaten my heart as long as I take my medication.” Treating diabetes can help reduce your risk for or delay the development of cardiovascular diseases. But even when blood sugar levels are under control, you’re still at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s because the risk factors that contribute to diabetes onset also make you more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. These overlapping risk factors include high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.

“Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.” Although people with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, you can take steps to dramatically reduce your risk. Create an action plan to keep your heart healthy by tackling these to-dos: get active; control cholesterol; eat better; manage blood pressure; maintain a healthy weight; control blood sugar; and stop smoking.

“I don’t need to have my cholesterol checked until I’m middle-aged.” The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20. It’s a good idea to start having a cholesterol test even earlier if your family has a history of heart disease. Children in these families can have high cholesterol levels, putting them at increased risk for developing heart disease as adults. You can help yourself and your family by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

“Heart failure means the heart stops beating.” The heart suddenly stops beating during cardiac arrest, not heart failure. With heart failure, the heart keeps working, but it doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. It can cause shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles or persistent coughing and wheezing. During cardiac arrest, a person loses consciousness and stops normal breathing.

“This pain in my legs must be a sign of aging. I’m sure it has nothing to do with my heart.” Leg pain felt in the muscles could be a sign of a condition called peripheral artery disease. PAD results from blocked arteries in the legs caused by plaque buildup. The risk for heart attack or stroke increases five-fold for people with PAD.

“My heart is beating really fast. I must be having a heart attack.” Some variation in your heart rate is normal. Your heart rate speeds up during exercise or when you get excited, and slows down when you’re sleeping. Most of the time, a change in your heartbeat is nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it can be a sign of arrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can last long enough to impact how well the heart works and require treatment.

“I should avoid exercise after having a heart attack.” No! As soon as possible, get moving with a plan approved for you! Research shows that heart attack survivors who are regularly physically active and make other heart-healthy changes live longer than those who don’t. People with chronic conditions typically find that moderate-intensity activity is safe and beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends at least two and a half hours of moderate intensity physical activity each week. Find the help you need by joining a cardiac rehabilitation program, or consult your healthcare provider for advice on developing a physical activity plan tailored to your needs.