Leaving your children with a babysitter can be nerve-wracking at times. Even if you find the most qualified candidate, there can still be moments of anxiety and uncertainty. One way to help you feel less nervous is to leave your babysitter an emergency note.
We’ll share everything you need to know about what to include in an emergency note so it provides the most use for your babysitter.
Key Takeaways
Leaving an emergency note for your babysitter helps them be more prepared to handle emergency situations by providing them with contacts and directions.
There are some important things you should always include in your emergency note. The most common essentials are emergency contacts, details of any medical conditions regarding your child, and evacuation directions for specific situations.
Check if emergency contacts are updated and create a writing format that’s easy for your babysitter to read.
Why You Should Leave an Emergency Note for Your Babysitter
Emergency notes are helpful for babysitters because they help them respond to an issue promptly and efficiently. Typically, they contain contact information, directions for responding to certain emergencies, and other useful guidelines on addressing the child's needs.
Taking the time to leave an emergency note can have a major impact. It better prepares the babysitter, reducing their chances of panicking and allowing for a more prompt response.
Many situations are time-sensitive, so providing a means of direction for the babysitter to act accordingly is crucial to avoid harm to your child.
In addition, leaving an emergency note offers peace of mind knowing the babysitter has the essential information for keeping your child safe. It also offers the sitter a better sense of preparedness, giving them more self-confidence to address any issue.
What to Include in Your Emergency Note
For the emergency note to be helpful for the babysitter, it should contain all the right information. Below are some general recommendations when leaving a note for your babysitter.
Contact Information
The babysitter must know your contact information. The more methods you provide for them to contact you, the better.
Provide a good phone number you can answer promptly. You should test the call to see that it goes without any delays.
Consider adding other alternative means of communicating just to be safe. Include your email, as well as social accounts offering built-in messaging systems.
Emergency Contact Information
In addition to your contact information, you should provide numbers for emergency contacts, such as a local hospital or another family member to contact in case the babysitter can’t reach out to you.
Informing your babysitter of your primary healthcare location is also generally a good idea. Write the hospital’s name in the note and any insurance information needed to admit the child.
Include as many emergency contacts in the note as necessary.
Child’s Medical Information
It’s essential to let your babysitter know about any medical conditions. Even if you discuss this with them beforehand, including the information in your emergency note can help remind them of a child’s condition.
The owner of The Experienced Nanny, Candi Vajana, advises:
“The nanny must be aware of any allergies your child has in case of an emergency. Knowing this information will allow the nanny to take appropriate action, such as administering medication or seeking medical attention. Please include the specific allergens, medications, and steps to take in case of exposure.”
Additionally, she explains:
“Having your pediatrician's contact details on hand can be helpful if the nanny needs medical advice before calling 911. This can help when immediate action is unnecessary, but professional guidance is required.
"Having readily available insurance details streamlines seeking medical care during emergencies. It ensures that necessary information is accessible to medical professionals and helps handle medical expenses. Please include the name of the insurance provider and policy number… have copies of the insurance cards in an accessible place so the nanny can grab them on the way out.”
Instructions For Certain Emergencies
Providing instructions on what to do during an emergency can be very helpful for your babysitter.
Only include what is practical. Consider instructions for medical emergencies, such as who to call or what to do. You may also want directions for evacuation procedures during the event of a natural disaster, such as earthquakes or fires.
Location of Emergency Items
Some items are very helpful to have during an emergency. Leaving some items for your babysitter, as well as detailing their location, can be very helpful.
Include what you think is practical. Flashlights, emergency blankets, fire extinguishers, spare house keys, or car keys are all good options.
Conditions for When to Contact You
Outline the conditions for when the babysitter should contact you, such as if your child has a fever or becomes ill.
You may need to provide the babysitter with medical information for your child to be taken to the hospital if they become sick or injured.
Tips for Writing an Emergency Note for Your Babysitter
Writing an emergency note for your babysitter is not complicated, but you must perform some quality checks for it to be helpful. Here are some tips to consider before writing your babysitter’s emergency note.
Ensure Contacts Are Up to Date
Before you include any contacts in your emergency note, you must ensure they’re still reachable by checking to see if the phone numbers are up to date.
After a set amount of time, test call your phone number to ensure it’s functional and designated to the right person. Verify any emails or building addresses as well so they don’t cause confusion or delay response to the emergency.
Write Only What’s Important
Remember, emergency notes should only contain helpful information and be quick to read. Condensing your note and keeping it short and sweet is the goal.
Provide contacts that are useful in the event of an emergency. Think realistically of potential emergencies that could occur and provide realistic solutions.
Try writing a draft or two of the emergency note. Condense it as best as you can. Eliminate words and phrases that aren’t necessary for your babysitter to understand what is needed.
Ensure It’s Organized & Available
Writing in an organized manner can determine the overall readability of your emergency note and help your babysitter react accordingly in a more efficient manner.
Use headers to categorize the information. Use one for “emergency contacts,” and maybe another for “medical information,” etc. Using bullet points can also help break down information, as well as create steps that are necessary for following any kind of direction.
Gordon advises: “Have it [the emergency note] available as a working Google Doc or PDF file as a point of reference. Have a paper copy available in the home in a designated area at all times.”
Make Copies of the Emergency Note
Consider making more than one copy of the note. If the babysitter loses the only copy provided, it could impose challenges in an emergency.
In addition to providing multiple physical copies, you should consider making a digital document version to make more prints if needed. Here at Trustworthy, we provide secure digital storage for documents of all types. We keep them secure and organized while offering you and other authorized individuals easy access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What emergency information does a babysitter need?
Your babysitter must know your contact information and any other emergency contact numbers in case of an emergency. You should also include any important details regarding your child and any instructions that can help during a specific emergency.
Why do babysitters need emergency notes?
Emergency notes are very helpful for babysitters to know who and what to do during an emergency. They can help them feel more confident and prepared for future emergencies by giving them the guidelines to follow to address the issue.
Should emergency notes be discussed with the babysitter in person?
Going through the emergency note with your babysitter in person is the best method. If the babysitter had questions, you could clarify them quickly. In some instances, you may not have time to go over it, so providing your contact number is important for any questions regarding the note.
What if there are changes in emergency contact information?
You should ensure all the contact information is current before writing the note. If it changes when you are away from your babysitter, then you should contact them as soon as possible and provide them with the new details.
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