A group of au pairs from Cultural Care Au Pair, which matches au pair child caregivers with host families, took a water safety class at the Foxboro YMCA in time for summer pool and beach outings. With 75% of all emergencies occurring to children under 8 years old, this class was an important preventative measure to keeping children safe by educating their caregivers on the signs of distress and drowning, pool safety tips and rescue and assist techniques.
The class was organized by Cultural Care’s Local Childcare Consultants (LCC’s) Michelle Gray of Wrentham and Marianne Herbst of Stoughton. Gray and Herbst provide support and guidance to au pairs and their host families throughout their year or more stay. The course was part of a series of safety education classes that Cultural Care offers to au pairs and host families throughout the year in order to ensure the highest quality care available. It included a classroom portion and an in-water rescue technique segment that allowed the au pairs hands-on experience in simulated emergencies.
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“I’m extremely pleased that the Foxboro YMC was so enthusiastic and accommodating in facilitating Cultural Cares’ water safety module in our safety education program,” said Gray. “My au pairs received valuable classroom and in-water instruction on the importance of water safety and drowning prevention while caring for children in and around water.”
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Part of the reason that water safety courses are so important for child caregivers is the nature of drowning or distress, which is quite different from expectations. A person in distress does not splash or shout, but rather is silent and may seem perfectly fine. This course went over the tell tale signs of drowning or distress to enable the au pairs to spot a child in trouble.
“The reminder that drowning is silent and not consisting of screaming and waving arms was useful now that summer is almost here,” said Emma Olausson, an au pair from Sweden who lives with her host family in Easton. “The kids I care for like to ‘pretend to drown’ loudly, and now I will know they are still fine.”
Cambridge-based Cultural Care Au Pair provides au pair and host family matching services and support across the country. This event was specifically designed for local au pairs, including those in Walpole, Foxboro, Sharon, Sheldonville, Stoughton, Islington, Avon, Hobrook, Randolph, Norton, Mansfield, Norfolk, Wrentham and Easton. For more information, visit www.culturalcare.com.
