Baltimore Cultural Care Au Pairs And Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company Focus On Children's Fire Safety

Top Quote According to statistics, adults over the age of 60 and children under the age of 5 are more likely than any other age groups to be harmed in the case of a fire emergency. End Quote
  • Baltimore, MD (1888PressRelease) September 13, 2010 - Cultural Care au pairs from across the Baltimore area met at Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company for a fire safety meeting hosted by Cultural Care Au Pair and members of the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company.

    According to Local Childcare Coordinator Dr. Thomas-Parker, educating au pairs on fire safety is a top priority for parents. "Au pairs are often the primary caregivers for many local families during the day. Fire safety training is important because it reinforces their knowledge of what to do if there is an emergency, starting with getting themselves and the children out of the house should a fire break out."

    The training is part of Cultural Care Au Pair's ongoing Continuing Education Program (CEP). As a U.S. Department of State regulated program, au pairs receive safety and childcare education throughout their year long stay in the United States, beginning with a week of intensive courses at the Cultural Care Au Pair school in New York. The Baltimore au pairs together represent the countries of Germany, France, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Panama, China, Thailand, South Africa, Venezuela, Uzbekistan and Finland. Dr. Thomas-Parker, a resident of Phoenix, supports area parents and au pairs, advising them of educational opportunities, as well as organizing fun activities for the entire extended family to enjoy.

    "I am always looking for ways to make safety training and education fun for our au pairs," said Dr Thomas-Parker. According to Andrew Stroup, the training covered everything from smoke detectors to safely and quickly getting out of a home in the case of a fire, with an emphasis on the cultural differences on handling an emergency here in the United States as opposed to other parts of the world. "When you invite an au pair into your home, programs like these assure that you leave your children in the most capable hands possible. It is comforting as a parent to know that your children are with a caregiver you can trust."

    Dr. Thomas-Parker suggests these safety tips for local families:
    Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries once a year
    Make sure you have a fire alarm on every floor of your home
    Plan fire escape routes for your family and identify a meeting place outside the home in case of an emergency
    Keep matches, gasoline, and all flammable materials locked away and out of a child's reach
    Never leave cooking food unattended
    Introduce children to a firefighter, so they will know not to be scared in the case of a fire
    Avoid plugging several appliance chords into the same electrical socket
    Consider buying safety ladders for upper levels of your home and show older children how to use them

    For more information on inviting an au pair into your home, call Dr. Sharon Thomas-Parker at 410 365-1010

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