The Safety Team (ST) has been busy over the last few months working on putting together plans for all facets of safety and security on the First Baptist campus. The ST has 3 focus areas for safety planning and implementation: Campus Safety and Security Patrol, Emergency Preparedness, and Medical Response. A summary of accomplishments to date includes:
- Established a duty roster for safety patrols during Sunday & Wednesday services
- Assumed lock and unlock duties from the Properties & Grounds committee
- Identified 11 individuals who will serve as medical emergency responders
- Conducted CPR training to certify additional ST personnel and other church members
- Met with a security training professional with regards to evaluation and advice for enhancing church security, specifically with regards to active shooter mitigation and response
- Purchase & installed fire blankets in the Fellowship Hall kitchen and office area
- Provided campus surveillance, door security and general support for the Jordan Feliz concert in February.
- Authorized four Safety Team members for concealed carry on campus in accordance with the church Safety Policy document.
The Campus Safety and Security Patrol has been tasked with locking and unlocking the church campus every week and maintaining roving patrols before & during Sunday and Wednesday services. The campus patrols have been in conjunction with Powell Asset Security. The contract with Powell Security will phase out at month-end as the ST evolves to self-performance in terms of campus patrol and surveillance, which will include a limited number of personnel authorized to conceal carry a firearm. Those authorized to conceal carry on campus have been through a thorough vetting process and will continue participating in any trainings deemed necessary by the ST. Powell Security will remain available for events on an as-needed basis.
Emergency Preparedness is working in conjunction with the Medical Response team to develop plans for medical emergencies, fire evacuations and weather-related safe shelter areas. The Medical Response team has posted a bulletin board of members along with photographs so the congregation can identify members easily. CPR training was conducted in May for 9 individuals learning CPR for adults, children and infants along with AED, Basic First Aid, and Tourniquet training. The AED (automated external defibrillator) was updated with a new battery pack and new chest pads are being ordered. Additional training dates will be forthcoming for team members and congregation to maintain certifications.
Future plans and focus areas for the ST moving forward include:
- Have means of easily identifying ST personnel on sight: vests, lanyards, etc
- Add an additional AED for the Fellowship Hall/Gym area and increase the medical/first response equipment around the campus.
- Enhance campus lighting and surveillance cameras to aid safety and security as well as early alert capability
- Document ST protocols & procedures in a binder (hard copy & electronic)
- Conduct training for the ST members in areas of severe weather response, evacuations (e.g.- fire) and active shooter scenario
- In turn, the ST will conduct similar training for the congregation
- Establish periodic drill calendar to maintain ST proficiency as well as congregational familiarity with evacuations and response to emergencies
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