3 minute read
Church Safety Team Ensures Well-Being of All Who Enter Our Parish
With our vibrant parish and the number of people we have at Mass, accidents and medical emergencies are bound to happen. Though we hope they are few and far between, a new team at St. Timothy stands ready to help — the Church Safety Team (CST), which has been around for nearly a year.
Imagine a scenario where someone passes out in the pew ahead of you during Mass. Your first instinct may be to yell for help or call 911. Others sitting nearby would notice a commotion. This is just the type of situation the CST is intended to address. Members are trained to assist with minimum impact to Mass. CST members are there to remain calm and alert medical personnel if necessary. They are also trained in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), of which there are three at St. Timothy. The team is also working on a Crisis Management and Evacuation Plan.
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Tom Boudreaux spent his career in safety and risk management, and he wanted to use his gifts to help at St. Timothy. He coordinates the CST and often serves on the team at 11 a.m. Mass.
“Our mission is to provide a hospitable and safe environment during Mass and designated special events,” Tom says.
Although this is a new team, there are currently about 25 members. There are also several members in common with the Usher and Greeter Ministries. The CST aims to always have three members at each weekend Mass. CST volunteers wear yellow shirts and carry a two-way radio. Some team members are law enforcement members and firefighters.
Tom invites other parishioners with health-related careers to get involved.
“Those people have such an important set of skills,” he says. “We would love to have their help on the CST.”
Tom asks those with medical skills to alert a CST member so they know where they are sitting at Mass should the need arise. The CST members also receive training on deescalation and other incidents that may happen at Mass.
Tom wants parishioners to know they should report anything they see amiss to an usher or a CST member. Whether a kneeler is broken or if there is a hole in the parking lot asphalt, tell someone about it. He also wants parishioners to know the CST is there in the event of an emergency.
“Don’t panic,” Tom says. “Find an usher or CST member in an emergency.”
This is all about making St. Timothy the best and safest it can be.
“We want to promote a culture of safety here at St. Timothy,” Tom says. “This team is here when needed for any emergencies that arise.”
