"Most parents know the big rules when it comes to their child’s water safety, like never leaving the children alone when swimming, but sometimes that is not enough and children drown accidentally," said Local Childcare Coordinator Jennifer Frueh. "We know that it is important to parents that the person taking care of their children knows what to do in the case of a water emergency, so we arm our au pairs with information."

 

The training was 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 local au pairs together represented the countries of Germany, Thailand, South Korea, Brazil, Norway, Australia, South Africa, Panama, Mexico, Columbia, and Costa Rica. Jennifer Frueh, a resident of Sterling, supports area parents and au pairs, advising them of educational opportunities, as well as organizing fun activities for the entire extended family to enjoy.

 

According to Frueh, the training focused on keeping children safe while around water. "It is important to recognize that children are at risk of drowning not just at the beach, but in the bathtub, the sink, even in the water collected in a pool cover. The best defense against tragedy is to be aware of your environment," said Frueh.

 

Frueh along with local aquatics instructors suggests these summer safety tips for local families:

 

* Never leave a child unattended near water; including pools, sinks, and bath tubs
* Do not rely on a bath support ring or a bath caddy to keep a baby safe while in the bath tub
* Teach older children safe water habits, such as never running near a pool
* Never let older children swim in unsupervised areas, as older children often overestimate their swimming ability
* Be careful of strong currents when swimming in the ocean
* Adults should learn infant and child CPR
* Never dive in a body of water, unless you know for certain it is at least 9 ft deep
* Do not rely on pool covers to prevent a child from drowning; water can collect on top of the cover
* Children and adults should wear life vests when on a boat or practicing water sports

 

For more information on au pairs, call Frueh at 703-798-6059 or visit Cultural Care Au Pair online at Jfrueh.aupairnews.com or www.culturalcare.com.