The St. Joseph Parish Safety Committee is a group of volunteer guardians that serve to coordinate and implement safety measures across the church community. It is their responsibility to ensure that the church is well-prepared to respond to emergencies and potential threats by developing and executing effective emergency response plans and protocols.

1. Establish open communication channels:

2. This communication should include:

• Be aware of parishioners who become dissatisfied and confidentially communicate this to the safety team leader.
• Encourage parishioners with marriage issues to seek professional counseling (16% of incidents are caused by persons with marriage issues).
• Invite local authorities to visit your parish.
• Provide the local authorities with a map of your buildings.
• Label entrances both inside and outside.

3.  Elements to Consider When Establishing a Safety Team
   1. Do not advertise for members of this team.
   2. Suggested team members include active or retired law enforcement officers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and anyone with strong leadership skills. Teams should be comprised of both males and females.        
   3. Complete an Emergency Services Contact List (ESC list) Police, Fire etc. contact numbers.

1. Physical Property Protection

• Maintenance personal plays are key role in all safety plans.
• Facility inspection sheets are available by contacting the Finance office.
• Verify video equipment is working properly.
• Fire extinguishers should be checked and signed off on annually.
• Testing of emergency lighting systems for each exit should be done annually.
• Visitor protocols and procedures (limit the number of entrances):
  • Sign in sheets should be kept at the entrance way.
  • If you have an access control entrance system, do not let visitors enter the building without an escort.
  • Visitors should also be escorted out of the building.

2. Medical Safety

• Have a first aid kit.
• Have a trauma kit.
• AED – Automated External Defibrillator (battery life should be tested and a verification of the pads expiration date should be completed and signed off on monthly).
• Safety team should have a good knowledge of the layout of buildings, to escort EMT directly to the person(s) in need.
• Please note that anyone administering first aid is protected by the Good Samaritan Act.
• Covid prevention and sanitation procedures should be documented, reviewed and revised as needed.

3. Natural Disasters Safety

• Label all Tornado Shelter areas and review the locations of these shelter areas on an annual basis.
• Fire and or Tornado evacuation procedures should be reviewed annually with parishioners. Consider having an evacuation drill annually.
• Safety team members should assist those parishioners that may need help during an evacuation.

3. Assailant Safety

• Safety team members should be equipped with state-of-the-art radios with earpieces.
• Safety team members should be at the church one-half hour before the service begins to discuss the positioning of team members.
• One team member should monitor the parking lot (approximately 75% of incidents occur outside of the church).
• Assailant procedures should be communicated on an annual basis. Parishioners should be made aware of the two closest exits. Also discuss the Get Out / Lock Out / Take Out safety concept:

• ​​​​​​​Once law enforcement has arrived, parishioners should be advised that during the evacuation they should exit with their hands empty and held above their heads while remaining as calm as possible.

Initial Adoption:  July 1, 2023                                                                                           
Effective Date:   July 1, 2023                                                                                        
Revision Date(s):