Webinar on congregational safety

1. Webinar on
Congregational Safety
will begin soon!

2. MidAmerica Webinar
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley
District Executive, Heartland

3. Central MidWest, Heartland and Prairie Star Districts

4. Welcome!

Welcome
Introductions
Technical Issues

6. MidAmerica Webinar
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley
District Executive, Heartland

7. Chalice Lighting


8. Safety: Why?

 People come to us for a variety of reasons
 Yet underlying it all is an expectation that we will
provide communities where their safety is foremost
in our mind
 Safety first. Three areas of focus:
 People
 Places
 Things
 Two modifiers: Natural and Human Created

9. Matrix View

 For any event, ask what are the impacts on people,
places, and things, both initially and as a result
 Examples:
 A storm: A tree falls on the building, creating a hole in
the roof, and people rushing to help fall because the
floors get slippery, and the leaks destroy the computer
system with all the congregation‘s information inside
 Medical issue for a member may traumatize members,
and there may be no indication of family/friends who
have power to act

10. Best Thing: Be Prepared!

 Create policies and procedures that reflect all three
levels
 Share information with renters
 Resources:
 UUA Website, District/Regional Staff
 Church Mutual Insurance Company
 Local Community Policing Officers
 Federal Government: www.ready.gov
 Local resources in disaster preparedness
 Your own insurance company

11. People: Medical

 Train key leaders in first aid annually
 Obtain AED and train people annually
 Maintain a full first aid kit, with signs as to location
 Include diabetes glucose tablets, etc.
 Post congregation‗s address in prominent location
 Have phone available for 911 calls
 Compile list of medical personnel in congregation
 Brief leaders on location of first aid materials
 Maintain Emergency Contact Files

12. People: Safety Guidelines

 Child and vulnerable adults
 Policies and procedures for Safe Congregations
 Sexual offenders
 Don‘t presume it doesn‘t happen in your congregation
 Policies and procedures: never alone, designated
companions
 Ask for disclosure—to minister or others
 Safeguard member/friend contact information
 Travel guidelines:
 Guidelines for drivers for trips, chaperones, etc.

13. People: Stranger Danger

 Biggest fear, but relatively rare
 Awareness and preparedness first
 No one working with children until more than 6
months at congregation
 Safeguard member/friend contact information
 Create a response plan
 Train greeters, ushers, teachers, staff
 Point people on duty each week
 Be curious about who come in, but not paranoid

14. People: Hazard Prevention

 Property accessible and safe
 Prepare for weather: snow, ice, flooding
 Playground equipment follows safety guidelines
 Proper lighting for night-time security
 Buddy system when leaving building after dark
 System for repairs and maintenance known by
all, including renters, to increase safety
 Maintain sufficient insurance coverage to protect
congregation

15. People: Disaster Response

 Evacuation and Sheltering In plans
 Design evacuation route
 Two gathering locations, in case first unsafe
 Designate people to help with RE and disabled
 Drills at least once a year
 Post maps in every room/location
 Determine sheltering in locations
 Safest places in congregation
 Drills at least once a year
 Post maps in every room/location

16. Places
 Building Safety:

 Look for obvious nuisances – inside and outside
 Pay attention to potential copper theft
 Fire alarm and/or phone with address and emergency
numbers listed
 Sprinkler system in kitchen
 Fire extinguishers throughout and annual check
 If fireplaces, monitor use
 Playground safety and cushioning material
 Lighting
 Address well posted on outside of building

17. Places

 Evacuation and Sheltering In
 Create routes and maps, and post
 Evacuation and sheltering in drills at least annually
 For sheltering in, obtain supplies and check annually
for expiry
 Partner with your local disaster recovery agency

18. Things

 Data Safety
 Offsite Backups
 ―Cloud‖ storage
 Equipment
 Maintain Inventory with full details, offsite
 Archives
 Offsite Backups
 ―Cloud‖ storage, not member attics/basements
 Bottom Line: Redundancy!

19. Role in Community

 One thing to ask: what role do you wish to play
 Are you a congregation that wants to help members
and neighbors:
 Do you wish to be a community shelter in
emergencies?
 Will you train members/neighbors on preparedness?
 Can you support workshops on wills and estate
matters for families?
 Will you keep up your commitments to disaster
preparedness?

20. Final Words

 Be Prepared—it can happen here, and does
 Create and review your policies
 Back up everything
 Train your people: first aid, AED, dangers, drills
 Redundant systems, offsite, automatic – now readily
and easily available
 Take care of yourselves!

21. Resources

 UUA Website (www.uua.org)
 District/Regional Staff
 Church Mutual Insurance Company
(http://www.churchmutual.com/index.php/choice/r
isk/page/intro/id/21)
 Local Community Policing Officers
 Federal Government: www.ready.gov
 Local resources in disaster preparedness (Google:
disaster preparedness churches)
 Your own insurance company