MODULE 2 - Section 5

Health, Security, & Emergencies

10-15 Minutes to complete section and related assignments

In this section, you will learn how to:

Prepare for a myriad of health conditions
Run a security trip
Lead an STT security training session
Develop emergency response plan

Health Considersations

When a short-term team visits your community, they will likely be in a new environment. This is fun and exciting, but also brings unfamiliar stimuli to the team. While we tend to think of this stimuli coming in the form of sights, sounds, customs and ideas, on a practical level some of those stimuli include things like unfamiliar foods, different sources of drinking water and new allergens and bacteria.

As you orient the team, you can help the team prepare for the various health considerations that will set them up for a healthier visit.

Below are some health-related items to consider before the team arrives. Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list, but a place to begin thinking about which aspects of the team need appropriate preparation and guidance.

Food

Sourcing from reputable vendors
Safe preparation and cooking methods
Avoiding raw or undercooked foods, including produce

Personal Hygiene

Hand washing
Showering
Bathroom/toliet use

Water

Safe source to acccess and avoid

First Aid and Prevention

Hydration
Availability of a first aid kit
CPR and First Aid trained field staff
Proximity to local medical facilities

SAfety & Security

A visiting short-term team will likely have little familiarity with your community. You were once the same as well, but now that you have been living and working in your community, there are decisions you now unconsciously make in order to keep yourself and your belongings safe.

As mentioned, all short-term teams through the STTs Department will have access to a basic security training. However, only you can do the following in your preparations: to be aware on behalf of the team’s safety as they are largely unable to do so for themselves. In fact, safety and security is the responsibility of all field staff, regardless of one’s position or authority. All team activities and decisions should have safety and security as part of the lens you filter them through.

Instead of trying to review an inexhaustible list of safety topics, provided below are several general safety and security categories to consider. As you read them, ask yourself: What considerations do I need to make for a group without familiarity or awareness of our context?

Additionally, while the list is not be all-encompassing, it will give you the perspective of where to start when considering safety and security measures as it applies to the team’s community engagement.

Tips:

Airport

Transportation
Lodging
Out & About
Interactions with Locals

Personal Documents

Picture Taking
Cell Phone & Internet
Social Media
Odds and Ends

Highlighted Resource

Short-Term Team Security Training

All short-term teams receive this security training. As a host, you should be aware of these security measures and should add/highlight any measures that apply to your specific context.

Emergency Response Plan

The purpose of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is to encourage each community to think through crisis protocols related specifically to short-term teams.

While a general crisis protocol will be provided, this section is not meant to take the place of the pre-established emergency response protocol for your community. For scenarios that more broadly impact your community, your general community Emergency Response Plan should cover it. If you do not have a general community ERP in place, you should contact your Catalyst to create one before receiving teams. Your Senior Area Director for the region can also give directions.

These steps are a condensed version of the very in-depth crisis response plan which has already been laid out through security training during Access. It has been modified in order to assist you in quickly responding to crisis situations which may arise as they relate to a STT.

In an event where a situation arises, regardless of its severity, take action and communicate in a way that keeps information concise, contained, and accurate. The goal is to keep the team safe and healthy while moving through a crisis situation.

The Crisis Response Steps below pertain to four general categories of crisis that can arise in a community: minor, major, severe and life-threatening. The most common issues that arise during a STT are minor illness or injury, such as a cold/flu, twisted ankle, stomach issues, etc. Second to that is major illness or injury such as a laceration or broken limb, minor car accident, concussion, etc.

Crisis Response steps

Recognition and Acknowledgement
- You become aware of the crisis
Containment
- Take immediate action steps that will keep team member(s) safe from further illness or injury
Communication
- Determine lines of communication when a situation arises
  - i.e. Catalyst, Team Leader, Director of Short-Term Teams, Senior Area Director, Safety Officers
Assessment
- Consider the following question:What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? How did it happen? Why did it happen? (if applicable)
Action Plan
- Determine the additional steps you will take based on what you know until the situation is resolved, starting with your primary objective (examples might include…)
  - Keep the team member(s) safe and comfortable
  - Take them back to the place of lodging for rest
  - Get medical attention for the team member
- Determine your secondary objectives at the time (examples might include…)
  1. Keep the rest of the team active and busy while I care for ill/injured team member
  2. Relocate the rest of the team
- Consider what other resources you need in place in order to accomplish your primary and secondary objectives
- Divide up the work to be done
  1. Be specific in your assignments
  2. Set clear expectations for communication
- Fill out an incident report
  1. Fill out Incident Report Form (found in Ohana)

Examples

Example 1

A team member reports feeling nauseous shortly after breakfast. They feels that they could still travel with the team to the work location for the daily activities, and you allow them to participate. Another team member comes up and reports they have been in the bathroom vomiting.

Use the following scenario to determine your likely response plan given for your location. Walk through the 5 steps for your Crisis Action Plan.

Recognition/Acknowledgement

How did you become aware of the crisis?

Containment

What immediate steps do you need to take to contain the crisis? Both the ill person and other healthy team members.

Communication

Who would you contact? 1st? 2nd? 3rd? (as needed)

Assessment

What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? How did it happen? Why did it happen? (if applicable)

Action Plan

Develop an action plan to handle the situation with the ill team member

Example 2

A team member is complaining of feeling fatigued, dizzy and having stomach issues after returning from an afternoon project in the sun. You and the team leader speak and determine they should rest, have fluids and you will check in the next day.

The team leader finds you just a couple hours later. The team member now is hot to the touch, sweating profusely and is going in and out consciousness.

Recognition/Acknowledgement