YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES
SAFETY FIRST
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR YMCA STAFF

Dear YMCA of the Fox Cities Staff Members,
Thank you for the high priority that you continue to place on the safety and security of your fellow staff members, facility members and program participants.
As an organization, this topic will remain paramount in our planning, policy development and strategic initiatives. We will remain diligent in our training for emergency response and preparedness and progressive in our thinking with new facility design and construction.
I have been inspired by the work of our Child Safety Committee and excited about the impact that our new Safety Around Water program will have on children for generations to come. However, we know that our work in this area is never done and that all of us must work together to keep our facilities, programs and services as safe as possible.
Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with tragic events that seem to be getting 'closer to home' each and every week. As a community, we are no longer insulated from these types of events that once seemed centered in major metropolitan areas.
The YMCA has been described as a safe haven by an extraordinary number of people in thousands of communities across our country and throughout the world. We must remain vigilant as an association and as a movement to preserve this identity.
To help reinforce our efforts and foster continuous dialogue around our safety efforts, we are proud to share the initial Safety First Newsletter for YMCA staff. This newsletter will help educate our team members on a number of safety related initiatives and provide an opportunity for direct feedback. You will find a direct link to my email, where you can share thoughts, concerns, newsletter article recommendations, etc. as a part of this newsletter.
A special thank you to Brian Rammer and Tom Wendt for leading our Child Safety efforts and to Sharon Johnson for leading our Emergency Response Team and for coordinating our Safety Newsletter.
Sincerely,
Bill Breider
President / CEO
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CHILD SAFETY
Brian Rammer, Associate Executive Director, NMY
Tom Wendt, Associate Executive Director, APY

Our YMCA of the Fox Cities Child Safety Committee has been working to reduce the risk of child abuse in our programs and facilities.  To help reduce this risk, we are putting together "Best Practices" in various areas for staff.  Here are two "Best Practices".  If you have any questions or would like to provide any feedback for future "Best Practices", please contact your Branch Executive Director.

ACY - Jill Rasmussen - [email protected]

APY - Dani Englebert - [email protected]

FWY - Brenda Johnson - [email protected]

HVY - Sharon Johnson - [email protected]

NMY - Scott Schanhofer - [email protected] 

 

YOUTH TO YOUTH ABUSE AWARENESS

Best Practices:
  • Each employee will have education in Emergency Response/Child Safety training.
  • Annual agenda item during a department meeting, highlighting specific examples as it relates to the program.
  • Youth Awareness communication or education within programming based on Mission Impact Team. (Example-beginning of each camp week, school year, sports league, etc.)

1:1 RATIO STAFF/VOLUNTEER & CHILD

Best Practices - based on facility and/or program including but not limited to schools, parks, sports teams, tutoring, and music lessons:

  • Strive for 2 staff/adults/volunteers when available.
  • Open door practice/window view - private lessons.
  • Move to common area or camera view.  Parent communication encouraged with this practice. 
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Sharon Johnson, Executive Director, HVY
 
With the recent increase in local armed robberies, we felt it was important for our staff to understand what to do and how to prepare in case one of our YMCA facilities becomes a target. Knowing what to do in the event of an armed robbery is the best defense. Most armed robberies are conducted by opportunists and can be prevented. Everything a victim or witness does from the time the robber enters and leaves the property is critical to their safety. A robber wants money and a quick getaway. Cooperate fully. Our YMCAs all have Member Service Desks and some have a caf� or concession stand that could be a target.
 
PREVENTION
Being prepared for an armed robbery can help prevent the robber from choosing our property:
  • Lighting should be appropriate for the facility and properly maintained.
  • Cash handling and drop procedures must be followed.
  • Be alert and attentive.
  • Report any suspicious behavior to a YMCA Director/Coordinator or Building Supervisor.
In the event of an armed robbery:
Do's
  • Stay calm.
  • Let them know you intend to cooperate.
  • Follow their orders precisely and calmly, treating the whole situation as if it were just another transaction.
  • If you must move or reach for something, inform the robber first so they know what to expect.
  • Call 911 or sound an alarm (if your facility has one) only after the suspect has left and only when it is safe to do so.
  • Don't focus on the weapon, but try to observe the surrounding area and observe every detail about the robber.
  • Note the means and direction of the escape (if you can).
Don'ts
  • Never resist
  • Never outwardly panic.
  • Never scream, gesture or do anything to call attention to the situation.
  • Never smart mouth the robber, argue with them or try to fight them off.
  • Never assume that a gun is not real, not loaded, or that a young and innocent looking robber will not shoot you.
  • Do not offer or volunteer more than is demanded.
  • Make no sudden movements that may anger the robber or cause them to panic.
  • Never follow a robber as he flees - you may be mistaken as another robber.
After a Robbery has occurred:
  • Secure the scene to preserve any evidence. Lock the doors, keep people away from the areas that the robbers were in and keep any and all evidence that may have been left behind by the suspects.
  • Immediately write down information about the incident and robbers specifically.
  • Only record factual information, do not guess at anything you are unsure of and do not share information with each other.
  • Get as much information about the escape without going after them.
    • What means did they use?
    • What direction did they go?
    • Were there any accomplices?
    • If they used a car, what are the make, model, and color or tag number?
  • If people who saw what happened cannot stay, get their name, address and telephone number for the police.
Reminders:
  • If someone looks out of place or suspicious, ask them "how are you doing" or "can I help you."  If they are here on legitimate business, then they will not mind you asking if they need help.
  • Contact a YMCA Building Supervisor or other staff person if you witness any suspicious behavior or activity.
EMPLOYEE SAFETY
Michelle Sorenson, Human Resource Director, YMCA of the Fox Cities

Lifting is something we do every day, multiple times per day and if it is not done properly it can cause pain and injury to one of our largest muscle groups. Below are some safe lifting tips and techniques to help keep you injury and back pain free.
 
Do a quick assessment first:
Determine how much the item weighs and if you feel you can safely carry that amount of weight. Forty (40) pounds is the maximum weight a single person should lift and may need to be much less based on your own capabilities.
  1. Examine the item to be lifted and determine, if it is rough, sharp, or slippery and if will you be able to see above the item while carrying it.
  2. Trace the path you are going to carry the item to ensure it is slip and hazard free.
  3. Create a plan for you to set the item down without injury.
If there is any question you can safely lift and carry the item please don't,
your health and safety come first! Do a team lift or get a tool like a dolly, hand truck or cart.  If after your assessment you feel it is safe for you to lift the item then follow the lifting technique below:
  1. Make sure you are wearing proper footwear and if needed, gloves.
  2. Warm-up your back and legs by stretching. We are ALL athletes in life, so we need to warm-up our body to reduce risk of injury.
  3. Get firm footing. Place your feet about a shoulders' width apart. Bend at your knees, not your waist. Leg muscles are stronger and more durable than back muscles. Let your legs do the work.
  4. Squat down as close to the object as possible.
  5. Grasp your load firmly and wear gloves if the load is sharp or slippery.
  6. Prepare for the lift by tightening your core muscles & keeping your back straight.
  7. Lift slowly by extending your legs with your back straight & breathe out as you lift.
  8. Keep the load close to your body. Lift and carry the object near your waist.
  9. To turn move your feet; do not twist your upper body while carrying your load.
 
Don't take chances when it comes to your health and safety, if something seems too heavy or awkward, you can't see above the object, you don't have a clear path or you are not wearing the proper footwear then don't lift - get help instead. Please remember five extra minutes now to get a tool like a dolly or to wait for a co-worker to help you, can save you days, weeks or even months of back pain.

Stay Healthy - eat well, exercise, sleep and most of all listen to your body. NEVER do something that hurts. We want you to keep the 140 muscles, 33 vertebrae and 31 pairs of nerves in your back in excellent shape and free from pain.

Click here to watch a brief
safe lifting video.
PRIVACY AND SECURITY
Sharon Pickering, Chief Financial Officer, YMCA of the Fox Cities

With the electronic world the way it is, many of us have gotten away from balancing our checkbooks and reviewing our credit card or other monthly statements. I am diligent (the accountant in me) about balancing my checkbook and reviewing every statement or invoice that I receive via e-mail or snail mail. Why you ask? Identify theft continues to rise at an alarming rate! Those of us from the Midwest tend to be a trusting bunch, but when it comes to your personal finances, you should be anything but trusting. CLICK HERE to view a flyer that gives you some great ideas on how to protect your identity.   

 

Here are my top three:  

  1. Look at every statement that has your name on it - make sure everything looks legitimate.
  2. Order a credit report each year and review it!
  3. Destroy/shred all documents that have any personal information on them.
MEMBER SAFETY
Sue Pawlowski, Membership & Marketing Director, YMCA of the Fox Cities

In order to continue to provide great service to our members and guests, the State of Wisconsin YMCA's recently collaborated to utilize reciprocity software which enables all Y's to scan our members' cards from any Y in the state when visiting.  We have also collaborated with Raptor Software which allows us to check state and national sex offender registry's. 
 
The YMCA of the Fox Cities reserves the right to deny access or membership to any person who has been accused or convicted of any crime involving sexual abuse, has ever been convicted of any offense relating to the use, sale, possession, or transportation of narcotics or habit forming and/or dangerous drugs, or is presently or habitually under the influence of dangerous drugs or chemicals, narcotics, or intoxicating beverages.
 
The YMCA of the Fox Cities takes a no tolerance stance for anyone registered as a sexual offender.
  YMCA of the Fox Cities| 920.739.6135 | www.ymcafoxcities.org 
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YMCA of the Fox Cities | 229 East College Ave | Appleton | WI | 54911