Accident and Medical Emergency Guidelines The men's group at First Church enjoyed the fun and fellowship of their weekly basketball games. One night, however, the fun quickly faded when one of the players fell and broke his arm. As the ambulance whisked their friend to the hospital, the other players were unsure of what to do next. Should they call the church's pastor? Should they notify anyone else? Was there some kind of report to fill out? Accidents or medical emergencies during church and ministry activities are not uncommon. Establishing guidelines for dealing with these incidents can help ensure quick, consistent aid for the injured and can reduce the risk of future legal problems for your church or ministry. When establishing guidelines for your organization, consider these steps:

• Designate a contact person within your organization to handle all accident reports. The contact person should know exactly what information needs to be gathered and to what agency it should be reported.

   

• Take care of the injured. Apply basic first aid if necessary. If the accident is serious, call an ambulance; if the injured party is a minor, contact the parents right away. Also, notify the contact person as soon as possible, regardless of the extent of the injury.

   

• Gather information from the injured party. Find out if the person is a member, visitor, or employee of the organization. Record names and phone numbers of all witnesses.

   

• Inspect the area where the accident took place. If the accident was caused by a defect like a cracked floor or uneven sidewalk, rope off the area to avoid further accidents. Do not repair the defect until Brotherhood Mutual has had time to complete any necessary investigation.

   

• Notify your Brotherhood Mutual^® agent promptly. The contact person should relay all available information, including copies of any legal papers, demands, or notices you may receive regarding the incident. All injuries should be reported to your agent within 24 hours, if possible.

   

• Do not admit liability or make a commitment to pay expenses. While it's natural to express concern for the injured party, you should avoid making any comments regarding fault or negligence.
  

Reprinted with permission from Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company .

Brotherhood Mutual is one of the nation's leading insurers of churches and related ministries.