A. It is important to have an injury policy and reporting procedure in place.
The safety and well-being of ministry participants should be a top priority during every ministry activity. Be sure your supervisors and volunteers are prepared to respond appropriately and immediately.
An effective injury reporting procedure should include:
(In the case of child neglect or abuse, consult with a local attorney within 24 hours of the allegation or suspicion to determine if the allegation or suspicion should be reported to authorities.)
After you’ve taken care of immediate medical needs, contacted an emergency contact or parent (in the case of a minor), and connected the person with a medical professional (if needed), then you should make a record of the incident and communicate with leadership.
Notice of Injury Form
It is important to complete of a Notice of Injury Form as soon as possible after an incident. This form will help preserve the facts about the situation while they are still fresh. Recording physical symptoms immediately after identifying an injury or illness may help medical personnel determine treatment. Recording observations or allegations immediately after suspected or alleged neglect or abuse may help authorities better investigate the circumstances. The information on this form may also help you identify if your ministry should make any changes in activities, equipment, or policies.
Immediately after an incident, document important information, such as:
Date, time, location of injury/illness
Full name and contact information of injured/ill person
Type of injury/illness and description
Course of action (basic first aid, transportation to medical facility, etc.)
Circumstances surrounding the injury or illness
Other people involved and witnesses to the incident
Since Notice of Injury Forms may contain personal information protected by privacy laws, completed forms should always be kept in a secure place (e.g., a locked file cabinet or in a locked room used for confidential files).
The information we provide is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. Accordingly, no attorney/client relationship is created through this process, and no legal advice will be provided. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.
