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What every Church Leader needs to know

In delivering first aid

Imagine you come across a car accident along a deserted road. You stop to provide first aid, call for an ambulance and get the survivors to hospital for professional care. We must remember that with survivors of abuse, the role of the church is to provide first aid and call for professional help.

The "First Aid Manual" of the St John Ambulance, St. Andrew's Ambulance and British Red Cross give the following information:
Skilled First Aiders can save lives by maintaining a casualty's vital needs. Commonly abbreviated as ABC these needs are

• An open Airway
• Adequate Breathing
• Sufficent Circulation

We would like to suggest the ABC of first aid to abuse survivors (here we are thinking particularly of adults).

Availability and Accepting

Availability is an essential part of caring for people and time is a currency that can be invested in people. We must be available to be trained in first aid realising our limitations, available to invest time in people and available to people at times of need and stress.
Accepting what the person says without suggesting, jumping to conclusions or assuming anything is vital. It is simply encouraging the person to talk through open and non-directive questions, so that they can share their feelings, experiences and memories as they feel able. Accept what is said to you without reaction other than appropriate physical and verbal encouragements to continue. We accept not only what is said but also the person and affirm them as important and precious in the sight of God.

Befriending and Bridging

Relationships are the bridge of trust by which the person can share their feelings, fears and experiences. The trust that is created in the relationship will enable us to build bridges with the person that includes others, including a qualified counsellor and a support group. The befriending of others as a support group is most necessary and the task of the First Aider is to help the person to build such bridges without doing it for them or taking over the task. The church can become a support system for the person but we must not be afraid to include people outside of the church in the support group.

Call and Carry

We should always seek the advice of others and it is important to guide the person toward someone who is qualified and can give quality help. We must call the ambulance. The person may refuse counselling saying they are more comfortable with you. Although this may make you feel good momentarily this is very dangerous. Imagine again our road accident, the casualty has a broken leg, you offer to call an ambulance, the person says, "No! You operate here at the roadside and set my leg." We would refuse without any doubts and in the situation of abuse survivors we must not carry out roadside surgery but carry the person to appropriate help. Understanding that we are FIRST Aiders only.

Check out: What survivors need
and How to Support Survivors

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