November 21, 1997

IU Pediatrician To Be Guest On NBC'S TODAY SHOW

INDIANAPOLIS-- Patricia Keener, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, director of the IU Section of General and Community Pediatrics, and chief of pediatrics for Wishard Health Services, is scheduled to appear as a guest expert on NBC's "Today Show" Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Dr. Keener is founder and medical director of Safe Sitter, Inc., a national, nonprofit program for training teenage sitters.

Dr. Keener is scheduled to appear on the program to discuss the problems associated with hiring an appropriate teenaged babysitter. Her appearance will be on the second day of a two-day series focused on the shortage of teenage sitters. The series was prompted by a recent Washington Post article detailing the demographic changes that have led to a shortage of teen sitters. The article discussed how low birth numbers in the late 1970's and early 1980's have resulted in fewer older teens at the same time the number of children younger than 10 has increased.

A result of the dilemma is that the short supply of older sitters, coupled with increased demand, creates an environment where parents are tempted to hire young sitters without appropriate knowledge or skills, Dr. Keener said.

Since 1980, when Dr. Keener taught the first Safe Sitter class in Indianapolis, more than 150,000 young teens have participated in the two-day training course. The course teaches first aid and airway rescue skills, in addition to child care techniques and safety precautions.

The program is available in all 50 states and in England and Israel.

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