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To Save a Life

Church Vehicle Safety

Nurse examining young man's head injury in clinic

This article is based on the Safety Member Certification training module “Mass Trauma Emergencies” as well as four of the fifteen Expert Resources articles and is applicable to situations covered in “Active Shooter Response” and “Storms and Disasters.”[1][2]

From the Bible

And Jesus answering said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead" (Luke 10:30).

* A Samaritan came who stopped and treated the robbery victim.

And Jesus answering said unto them, " ... Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?" (Luke 13:2a,4)

* How many victims were injured without dying? Could any of the 18 who died have been saved with prompt treatment?

Introduction

Whether it’s one person, a few, or many, there may be times in the church or at a church-related event when an injury or a medical emergency threatens to take a life or leave lasting, severe bodily impairment. I myself have witnessed one person falling and breaking a leg during a church service, and another experiencing atrial fibrillation in a class. I’ve also choked on a foil leaf from a cake decoration during a church event.

These are only a few of the kinds of health threats people in church may experience, a few of the many reasons people in the church need to be ready to respond to injuries and medical incidents. If this happens when you are there, are you ready to be the first responder? If someone at a church picnic has a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a bee sting or mosquito bite, would you know what to do?

In the News –

There are several kinds of injury and illness incidents requiring immediate attention:

Traffic Accident Injuries:

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, September 19, 2021 – A Lancaster County church hired a bus and driver from a charter bus company to take at least 31 persons, including over a dozen young people, to a ministry retreat in New York State. Sunday afternoon, on the way back to Lancaster, the bus veered out of control on an exit ramp, crossed the other highway, hit a guardrail, and plowed into some woods. Thirty-two people, including the driver, were taken to hospitals. As of Monday evening, 14 were still hospitalized. The driver had experienced a medical emergency.[3][4][5]

Heart Attack - AED:

Regina, Saskatchewan, December 23, 2015 – Two days before Christmas 2023 in a Regina church, the pastor and a staff minister were decorating the sanctuary. The staff minister began getting dizzy, then went into the office where she passed out. Her heart was beating rapidly.

The pastor called 911. The dispatcher asked if the church had an AED. She said, “Yes.” The church had bought and installed one in October. The 911 dispatcher guided the pastor in using it. The staff minister was breathing normally when medics arrived eight minutes later. She fully recovered, and now the pastor urges other churches to get AEDs.[6]

Heart Attack – CPR:

Seminole County, Florida, July 7, 2024 – A church in Winter Park, Florida, hosted hands-only CPR training for anyone in town. So far, over 55,000 residents of the county have been trained.[7]

Gunshot Wounds:

Indianapolis, Indiana, January 24, 2021 – When police responded to a report of shooting in a residential neighborhood, they found several members of a family dead from gunshots and a teen boy bleeding badly from an arm wound. The two police officers applied a tourniquet and stopped the bleeding, saving the boy’s life. The wounded boy later told detectives that his brother had shot the family.[8]

Anaphylaxis:

Edison, New Jersey, 2015 – The St. Helena Catholic Church and School (Diocese of Metuchen) has a report form for cases of anaphylaxis – “a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.” At the top it says, “Call 911 when Epinephrine has been administered.” There is a check-box form for symptoms and treatments, places for the brand names and dosages of medications, and a list for the patient’s emergency contacts.[9][10]

Choking Victim Saved:

Mesa, Arizona, November, 2024 – An elementary school student in the cafeteria began choking on his lunch. A third-grade boy saw this and applied the Heimlich maneuver, saving the choker’s life. The local fire department gave the third grader an award.[11]

First Responders on Site –

Considering the time it usually takes for EMTs or paramedics to arrive after calling 911, we see that more lives can be saved by first responders who are already present. In July 1976, police and fire department medics were on duty on the Freedom Train in Seattle when my father had a heart attack there. Thanks to their response, Dad lived another 23 years.

We cannot always count on medical and emergency response professionals being there when an emergency happens at church or during a church event. Therefore, it makes sense to have members of a church safety team trained in life-saving skills. It is even better if the church has a trained medical response team scheduled for every service, class, and event.

Training in Life-Saving Skills –

If you are injured or have a medical emergency, you want whoever treats you to know what they are doing, and to do it right. The key element of this equation is training. I’ve worked in factories that had medical response teams (MRTs). The MRT responded when I crushed my finger. Years later in another factory, I was trained at work in First Aid and CPR by a local firefighter and certified by the National Safety Council. That course was to meet OSHA standards for trained emergency responders in the workplace. Taken now, the course would also include AED use.[12]

Most churches can have medical response volunteers take their training through the American Red Cross (ARC) or the American Heart Association (AHA). Actually, it pays to have as many church members as possible take this training too. One way to do this is to host community emergency medical response training. With more people signing up to train, it makes it worth more for the ARC or AHA to send trainers. Look at it this way, if the injured or ill person is a member of the safety team or medical response team, then it would be more likely for another trained person to be there.[13][14]

Additionally, if there is a mass trauma casualty event (several people injured at the same time), we need to know what to do then and have enough responders. Those who train for Safety Member Certification will take the training module “Mass Trauma Emergencies.” Those not on the Safety Team can audit the class to be ready for a mass trauma event, whether caused by severe weather, an active killer, or a local disaster.[1]

Training also includes drills. Conduct drills for all kinds of medical emergencies. Ideally hold a drill each month, or at the least every quarter. More than one kind of illness or injury can be covered in a drill.

Resources –

Medical emergencies are not in the nine Church Security Guide articles, but four of the fifteen Expert Resources articles do cover aspects of medical emergency response: “How to Start a Church Safety Program from Scratch: A Guide for Church Safety Pioneers”, “Understanding the Cost and Value of Church Safety Training: A Guide for Safety Advocates”, “Why a Structured Safety Program Matters: A Guide for Safety Advocates”, and “Beyond Active Threats: A Well-Rounded Church Safety Plan for Prepared Protectors”. For example, “Understanding the Cost and Value …” has this paragraph:

“In a medical emergency, trained staff can administer first aid or CPR, potentially saving a life. Not having these skills on hand could result in severe outcomes or legal repercussions.”

Overall, a lot can be learned by reading through Expert Resources.[15][16][17][18]

Equipped for Life Saving –

Of course, some skills need supplies or equipment. First Aid kits basically equip the teams to respond. Essential items include bandages, gauze and tape, scissors, antiseptics, and tourniquets. These can be in wall-mounted cabinets, individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs), and mass trauma kits. Also essential are Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Recommended places to buy kits and refills are Sheepdog Church Security’s Amazon page “Recommended Equipment for Safety Ministries” and Mountain Man Medical (a Sheepdog Church Security affiliate). Mountain Man Medical carries two items created in collaboration with Kris Moloney: the Sheepdog Belt IFAK and the Mass Casualty Trauma Kit.[19][20]

Conclusion –

Be trained and equipped for injuries, wounds, and medical emergencies. Have a trained person or persons at each church activity.

References –

  1. Kris Moloney, “Mass Trauma Emergencies,” Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, © 2020 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/courses/safety-member-certification-2025].
  2. Kris P. Moloney, Expert Resources, Security Articles, Sheepdog Church Security, January 1. 2023 – March 1, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=expert-resources].
  3. Anne Shannon, “Teens, volunteers from Lancaster County church injured in bus crash in Schuylkill County,” WGAL, September 19, 2021 [https://www.wgal.com/article/bus-carrying-teenagers-and-volunteers-from-lancaster-county-church-involved-in-serious-crash/37655818].
  4. Staff, “14 Remain Hospitalized After Pennsylvania Church Bus Crash, 6 in Critical Condition,” Zehl & Associates, September 20 or 21, 2021 [https://www.zehllaw.com/i81-pennsylvania-church-bus-crash-14-remain-hospitalized-6-critical/].
  5. News staff, “Pennsylvania State Police: Driver in LCBC bus crash had medical emergency,” WGAL, Updated: July 22, 2022 [https://www.wgal.com/article/driver-in-lcbc-bus-crash-had-medical-emergency-pennsylvania-state-police-say/40692636].
  6. Whitney Stinson, “Newly installed AED saves pastor’s life,” Global News, March 19, 2016, Updated May 16, 2023 [https://globalnews.ca/news/2586884/newly-installed-aed-saves-pastors-life/].
  7. Geovany Dias, “‘This could save lives’: Seminole County residents learn CPR at Action Church,” WFTV, July 13, 2024 [https://www.wftv.com/news/local/this-could-save-lives-seminole-county-residents-learn-cpr-action-church/FJRZNSCT7NDZVIHNNFLF66HPBQ/].
  8. Courtney Crown, “IMPD officers’ tourniquet likely saved teen’s life following Adams Street murders,” CBS4 Indianapolis, February 22, 2021 [https://cbs4indy.com/news/impd-officers-tourniquet-likely-saved-teens-life-following-adams-street-murders/].
  9. Staff, “Individual Emergency Health Plan for Anaphlaxis,” St. Helena Catholic Church and School (Diocese of Metuchen), 2015 [https://files.ecatholic.com/22484/documents/2021/2/0554_001.pdf?t=1612898300000].
  10. Mayo Clinic Staff, “Anaphylaxis.” Mayo Clinic, October 2, 2021 [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anaphylaxis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351468#:~:text=Anaphylaxis%20is%20a%20severe%2C%20life,body%20to%20go%20into%20shock].
  11. News staff, “3rd grader caught on camera saving choking student: 'I was terrified',” ABC7 Chicago, December 20, 2024 [https://abc7chicago.com/post/3rd-grader-caught-camera-saving-choking-student-arizona/15684475/].
  12. Staff, “First Aid, CPR and AED Training,” National Safety Council, 2025 [https://www.nsc.org/safety-training/first-aid].
  13. Staff, “Get Your CPR, First Aid and AED Certification,” American Red Cross, 2025 [https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lp/cpr-first-aid-aed-certification-new-hero].
  14. Staff, “Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED Training,” American Heart Association, 2025 [https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/heartsaver/heartsaver-first-aid-cpr-aed-training].
  15. Kris P. Moloney, “How to Start a Church Safety Program from Scratch: A Guide for Church Safety Pioneers,” Expert Resources, Sheepdog Church Security, December 1, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=how-to-start-a-church-safety-program-from-scratch-a-guide-for-church-safety-pioneers].
  16. Kris P. Moloney, “Understanding the Cost and Value of Church Safety Training: A Guide for Safety Advocates,” Expert Resources, Sheepdog Church Security, August 1, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=understanding-the-cost-and-value-of-church-safety-training-a-guide-for-safety-advocates].
  17. Kris P. Moloney, “Why a Structured Safety Program Matters: A Guide for Safety Advocates,” Expert Resources, Sheepdog Church Security, July 1, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=why-a-structured-safety-program-matters-a-guide-for-safety-advocates].
  18. Kris P. Moloney, “Beyond Active Threats: A Well-Rounded Church Safety Plan for Prepared Protectors,” Expert Resources, Sheepdog Church Security, June 1, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=beyond-active-threats-a-well-rounded-church-safety-plan-for-prepared-protectors].
  19. Kris Moloney, “Recommended Equipment for Safety Ministries,” Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/shop/instructor_moloney/list/1ERD68BB0JGWR?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d].
  20. The Highest Quality Medical Gear at the Lowest Prices, Mountain Man Medical [https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/?aid=18].