SAFETY & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN Linda Mei Lin Koh GC Children’s Ministries

What type of Health and Safety emergencies do you encounter working with children? Have someone at your table mime one they experienced. Guess what happened.

TYPES OF EMERGENCIES Fire Fire Fractures, cuts & bruises Fractures, cuts & bruises Food poisoning Food poisoning Accidents Accidents Drowning Drowning Molestation & abuse Molestation & abuse Fire Fire Fractures, cuts & bruises Fractures, cuts & bruises Food poisoning Food poisoning Accidents Accidents Drowning Drowning Molestation & abuse Molestation & abuse

GENERAL TIPS FOR EMERGENCY Develop a crisis management plan. * a fire evacuation plan for your church * a communication network for informing parents and church leaders * The designate individuals to deal with media are at the Conference and Union *a referral file of community numbers – hospital etc. Use the BUC official guidelines that protect children and the church. Develop a crisis management plan. * a fire evacuation plan for your church * a communication network for informing parents and church leaders * The designate individuals to deal with media are at the Conference and Union *a referral file of community numbers – hospital etc. Use the BUC official guidelines that protect children and the church.

Keep children in groups with adult supervision. Provide ongoing training for your local church staff and volunteers. Provide awareness training for children – Kidscape, Verify insurance cover with your conference when away from the premises. Keep children in groups with adult supervision. Provide ongoing training for your local church staff and volunteers. Provide awareness training for children – Kidscape, Verify insurance cover with your conference when away from the premises. More general tips...

Ensure access to a telephone, numbers of emergency services. Ensure access to a telephone, numbers of emergency services. Display the Helpline Notice. Display the Helpline Notice. Have access to parents and health information Have access to parents and health information for students. for students. Ensure access to a telephone, numbers of emergency services. Ensure access to a telephone, numbers of emergency services. Display the Helpline Notice. Display the Helpline Notice. Have access to parents and health information Have access to parents and health information for students. for students.

Outings/Fieldtrips Conduct safety walks through your church or designated activity venues to identify potential hazards, i.e. lake, wet floors, loose handrails, busy street, etc. Use only qualified drivers with valid license and good record. Use only qualified drivers with valid license and good record. Conduct safety walks through your church or designated activity venues to identify potential hazards, i.e. lake, wet floors, loose handrails, busy street, etc. Use only qualified drivers with valid license and good record. Use only qualified drivers with valid license and good record. TIP 1

Outings/Fieldtrips Have a “buddy” system for swimmingHave a “buddy” system for swimming * pair the children for activities in water * strict instructions to be together * have lots of volunteers to help Have a “buddy” system for swimmingHave a “buddy” system for swimming * pair the children for activities in water * strict instructions to be together * have lots of volunteers to help TIP 1

Food and Water Safety Practice good hygiene in food preparation.Practice good hygiene in food preparation. Ensure food is properly refrigerated.Ensure food is properly refrigerated. Beware of food allergies with younger children.Beware of food allergies with younger children. Ensure water supply isEnsure water supply is clean – run the church tap. clean – run the church tap. Practice good hygiene in food preparation.Practice good hygiene in food preparation. Ensure food is properly refrigerated.Ensure food is properly refrigerated. Beware of food allergies with younger children.Beware of food allergies with younger children. Ensure water supply isEnsure water supply is clean – run the church tap. clean – run the church tap.

Communication with Parents Require written permission forms for all off the premises activitiesRequire written permission forms for all off the premises activities Know how to access parents in case of an emergency.Know how to access parents in case of an emergency. Encourage parents to provide to their children age appropriate information about safety and sexuality - God Made Me Sexy BUC Toolbox.Encourage parents to provide to their children age appropriate information about safety and sexuality - God Made Me Sexy BUC Toolbox. Require written permission forms for all off the premises activitiesRequire written permission forms for all off the premises activities Know how to access parents in case of an emergency.Know how to access parents in case of an emergency. Encourage parents to provide to their children age appropriate information about safety and sexuality - God Made Me Sexy BUC Toolbox.Encourage parents to provide to their children age appropriate information about safety and sexuality - God Made Me Sexy BUC Toolbox. TIP 3

Supervision Have more volunteers to helpHave more volunteers to help * Ofsted says adult/child ratio is 1 adult:3 children=0-2yrs 1:4=2-3yrs 1:6=4-8yrs 1:4=2-3yrs 1:6=4-8yrs 1:8=9-12yrs 1:10=13yrs 1:8=9-12yrs 1:10=13yrs * use screened church youth years also parents involved in volunteering 16 + years also parents involved in volunteering Provide a code of conduct between volunteers/children and child/child Provide a code of conduct between volunteers/children and child/child Have more volunteers to helpHave more volunteers to help * Ofsted says adult/child ratio is 1 adult:3 children=0-2yrs 1:4=2-3yrs 1:6=4-8yrs 1:4=2-3yrs 1:6=4-8yrs 1:8=9-12yrs 1:10=13yrs 1:8=9-12yrs 1:10=13yrs * use screened church youth years also parents involved in volunteering 16 + years also parents involved in volunteering Provide a code of conduct between volunteers/children and child/child Provide a code of conduct between volunteers/children and child/child TIP 4

Check Supplies Check supplies and materials for children’s use:Check supplies and materials for children’s use: * should be toxic free * should not be too small-- danger of swallowing * scissors etc. should be suitable for children * strings & ropes should be short Use equipment appropriate for the age Use equipment appropriate for the age Check supplies and materials for children’s use:Check supplies and materials for children’s use: * should be toxic free * should not be too small-- danger of swallowing * scissors etc. should be suitable for children * strings & ropes should be short Use equipment appropriate for the age Use equipment appropriate for the age TIP 5

Equipment... Check playground equipment before activities Check playground equipment before activities * make sure the swings, merry-go-rounds, slides, etc. have no loose rings or screws * try them yourself before use by children Check playground equipment before activities Check playground equipment before activities * make sure the swings, merry-go-rounds, slides, etc. have no loose rings or screws * try them yourself before use by children

Staff/Volunteers Preparation Provide first aid training for all staff and volunteers – NEC Health Dept. Provide first aid training for all staff and volunteers – NEC Health Dept. Have a well stocked first aid kit accessible at all times. Have a well stocked first aid kit accessible at all times. Provide first aid training for all staff and volunteers – NEC Health Dept. Provide first aid training for all staff and volunteers – NEC Health Dept. Have a well stocked first aid kit accessible at all times. Have a well stocked first aid kit accessible at all times. TIP 6

Medical Personnel Provide a First Aider for all activities Provide a First Aider for all activities * this is a must for all children’s activities * children should know who the person is and who the person is and where to locate the nurse when needed Provide a First Aider for all activities Provide a First Aider for all activities * this is a must for all children’s activities * children should know who the person is and who the person is and where to locate the nurse when needed TIP 7

SAFETY is first! It is our obligation to ensure the safety of children under our care