A. Ministries can limit liability resulting from emergencies by having a trained and fully-equipped Medical Response Team.
In some medical emergencies, minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Prepare your church to respond.
Designate a medical response team. Ideally, a Medical Response Team should include physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, or other trained medical professionals. At a minimum, everyone on a Medical Response Team should complete training in first aid, CPR, and other medical response techniques through a reputable organization like the American Red Cross.
Line up the right equipment. In the case of cardiac arrest ministries should consider purchasing automated external defibrillators (AEDs). These devices are specially programmed to determine whether a defibrillator shock is needed before administering one. Additionally, ministries should have first-aid kits throughout the building. The Medical Response Team should have access to a larger and more fully stocked first-aid kit for responding to more serious emergencies. First-aid kits should be purchased through a supplier who can supply assistance and advice regarding the proper items to include.
Invest in training. A fully equipped team will not be much good if they do not know what to do when an emergency happens. Emergencies usually include a high level of emotion, so proper training can help team members stay calm and focused. Training should condition team members to follow a standard procedure of diagnosis and response to insure that the injured person is transferred to medical professionals with the best possible chance of recovery. Training should also condition team members of actions not to take such as moving a potential spine injury.
Posted 2018
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.
