AIKEN - Flexible hours and quick money make baby-sitting during the summer appealing to teenagers.

But many area teens are setting aside time to become certified sitters before handling babies and toddlers.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers offers a one-day class on baby-sitting geared toward 11- to 15-year-olds.

"We focus on basic first aid, rescue breathing and the Heimlich maneuver," instructor Helen Thompson said. "This is great even for those that work in a church nursery."

In the first class of summer, 18 pupils, more than half of them males, learned skills ranging from changing a diaper to bathing a baby.

"I didn't know that if you lay a baby on its back the chances of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) decreased," said Bryce Sanders, 12.

Facing the various scenarios that could occur while baby-sitting, such as an unresponsive child, made an impression on the pupils.

"I would be scared if a child started choking, but I would have to (handle it)," said Megan Padgett, 12.

Many 11- and 12-year-olds in the class said they will be watching their siblings during the summer months.

"It is probably easier if you have the class," said Tacoa Allen, 13.

Mrs. Thompson said the class doesn't cover what sitters should charge per hour but does point out how different ages require different levels of responsibility.

"A 5-year-old won't require as much attention as a baby, so you probably wouldn't charge as much," she said.

Throughout the class, pupils followed a take-home handbook listing first aid guidelines and learned techniques for interviewing a family before accepting a job.

"I tell them to never take a job unless they've interviewed the family," Mrs. Thompson said. "They might get in an uncomfortable situation with a child that might have a special need."

The class also teaches basic etiquette skills, such as answering a family's telephone and knowing when to call for help.

"Now if I ever baby-sit little babies, I know how to change a diaper and several ways to hold her, like a football hold," said Steven Carroll, 11.