January 20, 2016
If someone in your congregation suddenly needs emergency medical attention would your church know how to respond quickly and correctly to help save that person’s life? Medical emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime, which is why it’s important for your ministry to be prepared to respond.
Below are eight tips to get your ministry on its way to emergency medical preparedness.
1. Assemble a team. When organizing your ministry’s emergency response team, try to include people who have a background in the medical field—nurses, physicians, and medical technicians.
2. Have backup. Not all emergency team members will be in attendance at every church function. Try to have enough volunteers so that at least two people are always ready to respond to a medical crisis.
3. Offer training. Your medical response team will only be effective if members have the proper training. Offer classes in first aid, CPR, and AED use, so that if the time comes they will be able to provide basic care until medical professionals arrive.
4. Determine a home base. Consider having the medical response team sit in a designated pew or area at events. If something happens, the congregation will know exactly where to find help without wasting time.
5. Get equipped. Make sure your response team has the equipment. At minimum, your church or ministry should have an automated external defibrillator (AED). Having one could mean the difference between life and death because it analyzes the heart’s rhythm and prompts users to deliver a shock, if needed.
6. Think first-aid. Stock up on first-aid kits from a professional supplier. Suppliers offer kits with a larger variety of supplies than kits sold at pharmacies and medical supply stores that serve the general public.
7. Designate a dialer. Assign a few volunteers to dial 911 or other numbers from their cell phones in an emergency situation.
8. Spread the word. Make sure the congregation knows an emergency response team exists and who the team members are, so when there’s an emergency at church, members will know who to contact for help.
Recently, we learned about two major overseas incidents involving pastors on mission trips. The first incident involved a pastor being hit by a motorcycle while running. The second was a bus accident involving two pastors. The runner and one of the two bus passengers sustained extensive injuries.
Last month, the IRS announced that its initiating hundreds of church exams to test compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many provisions only apply to churches with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), even smaller churches could potentially violate provisions applicable to health benefit plans with as few as 2 plan participants.
July 4th is synonymous with food, fun, and fireworks. If your church is planning an event this Independence Day, remember to keep a focus on safety, so that everyone can have fun.
National Insurance Awareness Day falls on June 28 this year to remind people everywhere that insurance is vital to their companies and ministries.
More than 700 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in the United States so far this year, making this outbreak the worst in decades.
Do you use commercial vehicles that transport more than 15 passengers or carry cargo from one state to another as part of your ministry? If so, you are required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and obtain a USDOT number.
If your ministry buildings become damaged because of a tornado, or if your ministry plans to volunteer to assist with disaster recovery for those affected by these storms, be mindful of the dangers involved.
Thinking about taking a group from your ministry ziplining? Be sure to confirm that the site you choose complies with the new Kentucky state law that regulates aerial recreational devices.
The National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month, so we want to make sure your ministry is doing everything it can to protect its people, property, and programs. Each week in June, we’ll tackle a different topic. Up this week: Emergency Preparedness.
There’s a new scam in town, and ministries and other organizations collecting donations are the primary target. If your ministry collects tithes or donations, you could be targeted by scammers practicing donation overpayment fraud.
Accidents and medical emergencies happen at church more often than you may think. Knowing how to deal with minor medical injuries, illnesses, and major medical emergencies until first responders arrive can make a big difference.
Beloved evangelist Billy Graham was called to his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the age of 99.
For the first time in its 13 years of influenza monitoring, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that every state in the continental U.S. is seeing widespread flu activity. Get tips on how to keep your congregation healthy this flu season.
On January 27, American Church Group of Kentucky and Heartland Church in Paducah hosted a Church Security Conference to help educate ministries on how to protect their people and ministries. The three-and-a-half-hour event was free to attend and offered local churches an opportunity to learn how to develop a safety and security mindset and identify potential gaps in their current safety and security procedures.
We pray for the victims of the shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, KY. How would your church respond in a similar situation?
Snow skiing. Camping. Whitewater rafting. A youth group trip can give students an exciting diversion from their weekly routines, as well as an opportunity to strengthen healthy friendships. Off-site activities may challenge your students to step outside of their comfort zones a bit, but this can bring about a positive result.
If you are in the process of planning a mission trip for your church group, make sure to think carefully about insurance, safety, and security as you hammer out the details. Extra preparation could minimize headaches when your group arrives on the mission field.
Has your church or school ever been asked to loan one of your vans or buses to another? Before you decide to loan your ministry vehicles to another organization, seriously consider the potential risks associated with such a decision.
Completing a personal property inventory of your church or ministry could be one of the wisest activities you can pursue. If disaster strikes and you file an insurance claim, you may need an inventory highlighting damaged items.
Have you thought through potential dangers that may confront your ministry? Taking steps to consider and address these risks provides important protection from injuries, lawsuits, fires, and dozens of other hazards that may affect your ministry, especially your employees and those you serve.