Does the church have a medical emergency response plan?
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Oftentimes, religious organizations are faced with a minor medical incident that needs nothing more than First Aid. Other times, churches may find themselves in the middle of a full-blown medical emergency. Knowing what to do in either situation can mean the difference between the incident staying minor or developing into a crisis.
Recommendation(s):
A medical emergency is something nearly every church has experienced or will sometime soon. Because the likelihood of a medical emergency is so high, this is another key area in your emergency response plan. Please consider these recommendations as you develop your plan:
Train ushers and other front-line staff on how to respond to medical emergencies.
Coordinate and provide basic First Aid, CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training for ushers, staff and volunteers.
Designate a leader to direct others during a medical emergency.
Identify medical personnel within the congregation and request their assistance.
Have a well-stocked, up-to-date First Aid kit that is easily accessible. Since the first several minutes are critical, the right supplies should be on hand.
Practice your medical emergency response procedures.
In the event of an injury or other medical emergency:
Call 911 or a designated individual listed in an emergency contact list.
Identify your location, church name, address, and area of the building to the dispatcher.
Describe the situation (e.g. what happened, type of injury and help needed).
Obtain or provide First Aid.
Alert designated church leader(s) that an emergency is occurring.
Contact a staff member who has reference to any personnel files for medical emergencies.
Designate an individual to notify the family.
Station ushers or other volunteers in the parking lot to direct emergency medical responders.
Tasks:
Emergency Response Plan: Develop and implement a medical emergency response plan.
Emergency Response Personnel: Select medical leader and medical personnel within the congregation.
Emergency Response Plan Training: Train employees and volunteers in CPR, First Aid, AEDs and how to respond to medical emergencies.
Emergency Response Plan Drills: Practice emergency response plan drills on a scheduled basis.
Emergency Response Medical Supplies: Obtain basic medical supplies including a First Aid kit. Medical supplies are kept up to date and appropriately monitored.
This information was originally created by GuideOne and is shared with permission. GuideOne is a trusted insurance provided of the United Methodist Insurance Program (UMIP) and Sovereign Insurance Group.
This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
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