“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard
day and night to meet this threat.” (Nehemiah 4:9)
It’s important to select the right people for your
Church Security Team, people with the right temperament and the willingness
to serve. It’s also important to outfit your
Safety Team with the right equipment. Many
churches have little or no budget for safety and security equipment, so careful
consideration must be given to what’s needed.
Here are seven essential items that no Church Safety Team should be without:
1) Two-way Radios
In order to work together effectively, church
security team members need to be able to communicate. Team members in one part of the building need
to be able to call team members in other parts of the building or share with
the base. The most effective way to do
this is with two-way radios.
You might be tempted to think radios are not
important when everyone probably has a cell phone. But that’s incorrect. Two-way radios are more reliable than cell
phones, with longer battery life. In
addition, two-way radios are more durable even when dropped from as high as
four feet without sustaining any damage.
But even more important, radios give one the
ability to communicate with all the tram members at the same time at the push
of a button, an important feature in an emergency. Imagine the precious time lost if a team
member had to dial several phone numbers to talk to team members around the
property.
Be sure to have an ear piece which will allow
team members to communicate without church members overhearing and becoming
alarmed. Ear pieces also prevent team member’s
radios from squawking loudly during the worship se4vice or time of prayer.
2) CPR Masks
A CPR mask is a “barrier device” that allows a
team member to safely deliver rescue breaths when administering CPR. The CPR mask protects the rescuer from the
victim’s vomit, blood, and saliva, and in this manner reducing the possibility
that the rescuer might contract some type of infection from the victim. The easiest type of mask for beginners
is the flat barrier kind, which, when folded and placed in its pouch, is often
small enough to attach to a key chain.
The rescuer blows through a one-way valve or filter, which is disable
after use. If your security team chooses
this type of barrier device, you will need to keep a supply of spare disposal
filters or valves on hand as replacements.
The other type of CPR mask most often used by
professionals is more like an actual face mask that’s fits over the victim’s
nose and mouth. This type of mask is a
bit trickier to use because it requires the right technique to properly seal it
around the victim’s nose and mouth.
Without a proper seal air escapes around the edges of the mask making
rescue breaths ineffective. So, this
mask will take a bit more training and practice to use properly. Also, the valve on this type of face mask
will need to be cleaned and properly disinfected after each use. I would keep one in your church first aid
kit. But it doesn’t hurt for each member
of the team to carry a small one in a pocket with them. Team members should also have training in
CPR.
3) Flashlights
The flashlight is an indispensable piece of
equipment for every security team member.
When purchasing flashlights for your team, consider these factors:
a.
Light Output
Light output is measured in lumens and can
vary from as low as 20 lumens up to 3500 lumens, enough to illuminate outdoor
terrain at night.
b.
Run Time
Run time is measured in hours. As you compare flashlights choose one that
delivers the longest period of time before having to replace batteries. Many
flashlights today have various brightness levels, so be aware of the run time at
each level of brightness.
c.
Size and Weight
Size and weight is important as team members
may have to carry flashlights throughout their shift, or may have hold them
while carrying other equipment or assisting an injured person.
Therefore, choose a light that is a good
balance between brightness and length of run time, sturdy, yet not too heavy. Another plus would be water resistance. You need equipment you can rely on in any
situation.
4) First Aid Bag and Supplies
To properly cover any and all eventualities,
you may need to offer emergency medical assistance to someone until EMTs can arrive
on scene. If a situation like that ever
arises, you’ll find a first aid bag filled with invaluable supplies. The bags come in all sizes and price
ranges. Choose one that is easy to
clean, compact enough to store easily, and is large enough to carry all the
supplies you might need.
Avoid tactical bags used by the
military or the ones used by professional EMTs, unless you have an EMT on your
team or some of the team members are willing to get the appropriate training. These bags will likely have supplies your
team is not trained to use. Instead, look
for basic bags with supplies for common emergencies such as simple wounds,
burns, bleeding, airway obstruction, a tourniquet, and an emergency
blanket. All these items may help you
keep someone alive and comfortable until professional medical help arrives. I also recommend getting at least one AED
Defibrillators and no less than two people trained on its use.
5) Pepper Spray
Pepper Spray is one of the most effective less
that lethal self-defense weapons available to your team. It’s inexpensive, easy to use, and can
incapacitate the bad guy without the potential for permanent bodily
injury. It works by inflaming the eyes,
nose, and respiratory tract of the assailant, creating a burning
sensation. He will likely tear up, gag,
cough, and generally be unable to see or breathe normally for several minutes.
There are several types, each with its own advantage. Some shoot like a stream, some like a spray,
and others spray as a foam. Some even
contain a UV dye so assailants can be identified later. Your security team may want to practice with
several types to determine what may be best for your situation. Although pepper spray is legal in most
states, make sure you understand the possible restrictions in your local jurisdiction.
6) Emergency Alert/NOAA Radio
NOAA is an Emergency Radio Network that
broadcasts weather and emergency information 24 hours a day. NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. As a public service,
NOAA broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards:
tornado and flood warnings, warnings about earthquakes, avalanches, tsunamis,
chemical accidents, civil emergencies, and AMBER and SILVER alerts. This service, called the National Weather Radio
(NWR), is not broadcast over the typical radio frequencies of AM/FM radio, but
instead requires a VHF receiver, NOAA receivers can be purchased from
electronics stores sporting goods stores, and over the internet, such as
Amazon.com. NWR broadcast a piercing
1050 Hz alarm tone to get the listener’s attention before the start of all
emergency broadcasts. In most NOAA
radios, emergency tones and broadcasts will activate even if the radio is
turned off. Make sure the radio you
select has a battery backup so it will operate during power outages.
7) Security Banners and Vests
What happens when you have a critical event at
your church that requires a police response?
How would responding officers recognize the difference between the
security team and the bad guy? Even if
team members wear name badges, they really need something larger and more recognizable
to identify themselves to police officers who may have to quickly size up a
situation and take action.
One solution would be a security banner. It is a sash-like item worn over one shoulder
and across the body, something like a sash worn by Miss America, but maybe not
quite as pretty. It’s made of a
hi-visibility neon color with reflective letters that spell out “security”
across the wearer’s front and back so officers can easily identify them.
There is so much to learn about having a
security team, equipment, training, and procedures. I am always available to speak to churches
about security issues. If you have any
questions about starting a security ministry my contact information is listed
below. Feel free to contact me via FB or
email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Integrity Security Consulting
Russ Sharrock
405-762-2471 |
integrityseccon@hotmail.com
I have developed and made available to anyone interested, for FREE, a series of Security & safety forms that can
be printed for your use:
1) A Safety & Security Risk Assessment Form
2) Church Security Plan Template
3) Church Emergency Plan Template
4) A General Fire Safety Checklist
5) A Bomb Threat Checklist
6) A Bomb Threat Distance Chart: Includes various types of
explosive devises and to be referred to in an event of a bomb threat
evacuation. These are minimum distances to evacuate away from the area of
explosion.
7) Facility Lockdown Checklist
8) Child Protection Covenant
These MS Word documents can be adapted as necessary to fit your
church size and needs. I will be adding new forms as time allows.
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