Kids

How do you make sure that your volunteers know what to do in an emergency?

A few weeks ago we talked about some of the policies and procedures that are in place to help keep our kids safe from harm. You can read more about that here.

We’ve found that it’s important to train our volunteers and staff on the exact steps to take when faced with an emergency. One of those emergencies that we’ve faced is a lost child.

Thankfully we have never truly “lost” a child. But there have been a few times where a child has gotten away from their parents in a crowded hallway, or has traveled to KidStuf and gotten in with the wrong group.

Before I share the steps that we follow, I wanted to say that I don’t recommend that you copy our policy and implement it exactly. There are several details and steps in our procedure that are unique to us, to our building, to our staff, and to our volunteer positions.

This is what works for us. But, as with every policy and procedure, you should take the idea and look at it through your own unique lens and decide for yourself what is best for your ministry.

Lost Child Procedure:

Here are some possible reasons for a lost child:

• Snatched child . . . take immediate action. Yell and try to get everyone around you to stop the person.
• Traveled child to another environment and they are now missing.
• Child left your room or parent without supervision or permission.

In all instances – FIRST notify the Coach in charge. If  the Coach is not available, notify a staff person.

If the child is missing from the environment follow these procedures before assuming the worst:

1. Go to all logical locations

* Double-check classrooms

* Check large group environment

* Check KidStuf Theatre

* Check surrounding classrooms and other age group classrooms

* Check bathrooms

* Check Leadership Room

2. Put Host Team members at every exit door.

3. Locate parent and stay with them until the problem is resolved. Be reassuring and calm.

4. If you have looked at all above locations and still cannot locate the child (2-5 minutes) then Director will decide to lock down the wing.

Instructions to lock down wing (Staff is the only one to go to this step!):

1. Assign Host Team members to every door.

Prepare them to explain (calmly) why doors are shut. If this occurs between service times, staff may have to stand on chair, use the mega phone, and ask for attention of those people still on hall. Explain what we are doing and ask for cooperation

2. Do not let any child leave the hall.

3. Notify ALL staff on hall of missing child.

4. Notify all coaches of missing child.

5. Notify facilities and main church host team of missing child.

6. Make sure department director is in connection with someone on leadership team who is helping to guide and implement the next steps.

7. Look in all logical places – again! See list from above.

8. Send note to control room in main service to put a message up on the screen.

9. If child is not found, notify Host Team.

10. Decision to be made by staff that no child leaves the church building.

11. Decision to be made with help of department director, facilities director, or leadership team member whether or not to call the police.

These steps may seem too methodical and time consuming. But in fact, these steps are happening immediately and many times simultaneously. If there is a true emergency, core staff would gather and quickly be making these decisions together either face to face or through the use of radios.

What is the procedure that you have in place in case a child was lost in your building?