Church security team members should be trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). There is a greater likelihood a church member or visitor will suffer and die from a heart attack or stroke than from being assaulted or robbed.
However, the dirty little secret with CPR is that using it alone has little chance of saving a life. This doesn’t negate the use for CPR. Quick response with CPR by a team member can increase the chance of survival and can increase a patient’s chances when advanced medical support arrives. Whether a cardiac event is witnessed or not witnessed will determine when to begin CPR and when to apply an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
The Automated External Defibrillator is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. When used in tandem with CPR, it gives the person suffering a potentially fatal heart attack a fighting chance.
The AED is a very simple device to use, and AED training is usually given when a team member is certified in CPR. In the video below, Glen talks about the AED and demonstrates how easy it is to use.
A church medical response plan should be implemented within a church security and safety policy, and team members, childcare workers, and anyone else wanting to receive training should be certified. Calling your local fire department or American Heart Association is a great place to start when seeking basic CPR training.
Also – go to http://www.www.aedgrant.com/ to see how to get funding to get a discounted or free AED.