ChurchSafety

Emergency evacuations may not be commonplace in churches. Nonetheless, having a plan for how to vacate your facility in an emergency is an essential facet of church safety. For most churches, fire will be the culprit in forcing an evacuation. But a gas or carbon monoxide leak, a natural disaster, such as a tornado or flooding, a bomb threat or violent intruder all may necessitate an emergency evacuation.

Here are some simple steps to follow:

Tt's best to determine who will be responsible for various duties prior to an emergency. For example, in the event of a fire emergency, someone will need to call 911. This might sound obvious, but this vital step can be overlooked when everyone assumes someone else has already made the call.

If there's a fire inside the church building, getting outside is clearly the first priority. But the evacuation plan shouldn't end there. Once people have evacuated, it's important for them to congregate in pre-arranged assembly areas (preferably areas that are upwind of the fire).

Always consider people with special needs and children. Evacuation routes should factor in the location of wheelchair ramps. Also, a nursery evacuation may be quicker if the church purchases evacuation cribs—which are designed for safe and quick transport.

Determine the most effective way to communicate the plan to the congregation. Evacuation routes should be posted in hallways and classrooms. Consider putting information in the bulletin, or providing handouts to parents who are dropping kids off in Sunday school or the nursery.

When new staff members are hired (or new volunteers join a ministry), be sure to cover the emergency evacuation procedures with them. Consider making it a mandatory part of the orientation process for all new staff members. You may also want to require all staff members (or all members who work with children) to become CPR-certified.

Reviewing your evacuation strategies annually is one way to ensure that your plan is still the safest and most effective course of action.

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