Recent graduates of The Bellevue Hospital’s Babysitting Basic Course are, front row left to right, Haley Clapp, Pamela Reighard, Kailey Faulkner, Greta Brubaker, Alivia Strunk, and Lauren Raifsnider. Middle row,  Amber Otermat, Hannah Koechley, Katelyn Yost, Gabrielle Strunk, Lindsey Fox, Cassidy Fultz, and Sophie Militello. Back row, Adriana Sanchez, Arika Wadsworth, Shelby Bumb, Rachael Kreglow, Tara Rinner, Tyler Clapp, and Skyler Royster.

A total of 20 local and area students have become better babysitters, the result of completing a “Babysitting Basics” all-day course at The Bellevue Hospital.

The participants met from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Monday, June 14 in the hospital’s Conference Center. The class is for potential babysitters ages 11 and older.

The course introduced the future babysitters to the roles and responsibilities of the babysitter, including how to handle emergencies and illness, the basics of bathing, diapering, and feeding infants, playtime suggestions, and safety and nutrition.

Each student received a certificate of completion, a handbook, and T-shirt. Lunch was also provided for the participants.

Members of the class included Adriana Sanchez, Arika Wadsworth, Shelby Bumb, Rachael Kreglow, Tara Rinner, Tyler Clapp, Skyler Royster, Amber Otermat, Hannah Koechley, Katelyn Yost, Gabrielle Strunk, Lindsey Fox, Cassidy Fultz, Sophie Militello, Haley Clapp, Pamela Reighard, Kailey Faulkner, Greta Brubaker, Alivia Strunk, and Lauren Raifsnider.

The next Babysitting Basics course at The Bellevue Hospital is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 (President’s Day, no school) in the Conference Center, Building B, at the former hospital facility located at 815 Northwest Street. For additional information or to sign up for the next class, contact the Centralized Scheduling Department: in Bellevue phone 419.483.4040, Ext. 4326; in Clyde phone 419.547.0074, Ext. 4326.