Safety and Risk Management--Health and Safety for Children and Youth Ministry
Health and Safety Policy
For Children and Youth Ministry
This document falls under the Children and Youth Protection Policy. Therefore, all workers and volunteers involved in children’s ministry within and outside the church are required to understand and abide by the Children and Youth Protection Policy.
General
Individuals are encouraged to become certified and trained in first aid.
The names and contact information of the individuals that have been certified in first aid are posted in the children and youth departments for easy access.
Children or youth having severe allergies will have the information brought to the attention of the ministry lead and noted on their registration form. The information will be posted in the children and youth departments for easy access and ministry personnel who have the child in their care will be informed.
The cleaning and sanitation of toys and table surfaces is done at least monthly.
Illness:
If a child appears to be ill in class, inform the parents immediately.
Ministry Leaders will be informed of children with a known communicable disease so appropriate protocols can be developed.
Medications:
Medication should not be left in a classroom.
Ministry personnel are to avoid giving or applying any medications. Parents are to be contacted and should administer all medications.
In the extreme case where Epi-pens and puffers are needed for allergies or asthma, written instructions are to be provided by the parent or guardian to the ministry lead. Written instruction will be signed, dated and filed permanently. The medication is to be kept in the possession of the ministry lead or their designate.
Dealing with Cuts or Injuries Involving Blood:
All Ministry Leads and Personnel will become familiar with the Blood Pathogen Policy and the Infectious Diseases (Appendix 7)
The Infection Control Procedure (Appendix 6) will be posted in all classrooms.
When a child or youth is injured, the individual is to be separated from others. The area where the injury occurred or where any blood may have dropped on the floor or toys is also to be isolated.
Ministry personnel need to ensure that no other children have contact with any of the blood from the cut or injury.
Disposable gloves are to be used when bandaging the injuries.
Extreme care will be taken in cleaning up all blood and bloody bandages and the safe and secure removal of waste and disposal of gloves to a secure waste removal container.
Hands are to be washed carefully with antiseptic wipes available in the first aid kit.
When ministering to children with HIV or Aids, specific guidelines for the education and care of these children will be developed and followed with the guidance of the parents.
Emergencies:
Emergency evacuation procedures will be reviewed with ministry personnel on an annual basis. These procedures are to be posted in a visible place in each classroom stating the planned route of escape to the nearest exit.
A first aid kit will be kept in each classroom with ministry personnel being educated on the kit’s contents. Each kit will contain a pair of disposable non-latex gloves, disinfectant towelettes, two or three 4” x 4” gauze pads for blood absorption, small scissors and band-aids.
In addition to the first aid kits in each classroom, a master first aid kit will be available in the church building and in any church-owned vehicle. These kits should include a micro shield CPR mask, instant ice packs, sterilizing soap, tweezers, thermometer, an emergency instruction manual and additional quantities of the items mentioned above in the classroom first aid kits.
A parent/guardian will be contacted when an injury, accident or medical emergency occurs. Incident reports are to be completed for any and all accidents (Appendix 10). Injuries are to be reported to the ministry lead.