Anytime you bring a large group of people together, it is reasonable to expect that several people within that group have medical conditions that could require attention during a worship service. Rarely does the need occur because most families care for their members. However, it happens often enough that ministers, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and others should know what to do until help arrives. Furthermore, some medical conditions require ongoing or intermittent attention throughout the day. In those situations, Church staff or volunteers might be asked to assist with their care if they are a leader while that individual is in their room.
As a safety practice, the Education Director may want to keep profiles of students to include significant medical histories. Annually, ask students to update their profiles with new medical information and allergies if changes occur. In addition, ask them to sign a release to allow sharing of medical information with classroom leaders. By doing so, the classroom leader may learn what warning signs are and what to do if they appear.
When to call 9-1-1
The most important action for all caregivers, church staff, or volunteers should know is the number to call if someone stops breathing, does not have a pulse, or is unconscious (can out get them to wake up). However, there are other times to call as well.
9-1-1 Calls
Condition | Symptoms |
Difficulty Breathing | (1) you hear nothing when you listen to their airway (2) They make a very loud, high-pitched sound when breathing, like pushing air through a very narrow opening; (3) lips, fingertips, around inside of eyes, start to look a shade blue. |
Bleeding | Blood loss from any area that won’t stop after 20 minutes of applying pressure or if the blood is squirting from the site (if so, apply pressure and don’t release it until rescue arrives) |
Chest pain or irregular heartbeat | Causes light-headedness or shortness of breath, Pain radiating up the left arm or across the chest, shortness of breath, nausea, and a sense of impending doom – rest with the head elevated until help arrives. If they have an aspirin that is 81 mg, take one. |
Stroke | There is weakness on one side, a drooping mouth, difficulty smiling or speaking, arms not equally rising, and difficulty walking. |
Seizures | Convulsions, shaking uncontrollably, drooling, unresponsiveness, or staring into space |
Broken Bones | Visible out-of-shape arm or leg, swelling, bruising, bleeding, intense pain over a particular area, broken skin, bone showing or protruding, inability to move a limb. |
Head Injury | Dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, ringing in the ears, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, fatigue or drowsiness, loss of balance, and headache |
Objects Impaled into the Body | If an object gets impaled (stuck deeply into the body), leave it there and under no circumstances remove it. Stabilize it by wrapping a towel or dishcloth around it to keep it from moving and rushing to the hospital but keep it from coming out. If it does and is resting on an artery, the person could bleed to death immediately. |
Injury to Eye | Blurred vision, burning, stinging, pain, swollen eyelid, bruising around the eyelid, maybe bleeding. Sensitive to light, watery eyes. Apply a cold compress over the area till you get to the ED. |
Injury to Ear | Pain, bleeding, dizziness, hearing loss, feeling of spinning, earaches, and ringing in the ears. |
Burns Covering Large Area, Face, Hands, Feet, or Blisters | Pain, blistering, peeling skin, swelling, pale and clammy skin, weakness, blue lips and fingernails and changes in skin color and texture |
Non-Emergency Calls
Condition | Signs & Symptoms | Intervention |
Autism | Restlessness, getting up, singing a mantra, walking in a pattern, bouncing ball, spinning top, repetitive motions. | Leave them alone. Stemming (the repetitive actions listed above) soothes and comforts autistic individuals. It helps calm them. If you try to stop them, they may have an emotional breakdown. |
Asthma Attack | Struggling to breathe, lips turning blue, high-pitched wheezing noise as air moves in and out of their airway | If they have an inhaler, help them to use it. Call 9-1-1. Help ensure the clothing around their airway is loose, and nothing obstructs their airway. Find out what caused the reaction and remove it if it’s still present. If they have oxygen with them, use it. |
Diabetes | Becomes sleepy, sweating, slurred speech, acts intoxicated | They need glucose asap. If they have their glucometer, take blood sugar and find out how low. If they are still able to eat, get them to eat something. If unconscious, call 911 and try rubbing syrup sugar between teeth and gum |
