Making First UU a Safer Congregation

February 2026

Safety training event poster with details and a QR code for registration.

Transcribed Text:

“What to do until HELP arrives!”
February 28th
10:30 am – 1:30 pm
First UU RVA- LOWER LEVEL
Basic CPR, AED, choking, and stop the bleed training.
This is not a certification class
Training will provide participants with a basic understanding of what to do until help arrives.
Get educated! Be empowered!
You can HELP SAVE someone’s LIFE!

Register here (Google Form):
bit.ly/4aoWMAv

Registration is now open for the 2nd session in the First UU Safer Congregation three-part training series.

On Saturday, Feb 28, 10:30 – 1:30, you are invited to participate in “What To Do Until HELP Arrives!”  
This training is designed to provide participants with:
  • basic first-aid,
  • hands only CPR,
  • understanding AED,
  • preventing choking,
  • and basic ‘stop the bleed’ techniques.
We will learn and practice these techniques with a qualified trainer and in small group settings.
This is not a certification class.  Participants will learn and practice strategies that can help save a life…until professional emergency HELP arrives.
Due to the hands-on nature of this training, attendance will be limited to 30 participants, so please register soon.
A flyer with QR code is attached below, and here is the registration Google Form link. Please share this info as you are able.
With huge regard for all you do to help make First UU a Safer Congregation

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January 2026

In January of 2025, a group of approximately 21 people met to begin discussion and action to implement a Safer Congregations model for our community. The results of that first gathering can be seen in the growing awareness and interest of the congregation and their participation in helping to design strategies for First UU Safer Congregations.

January 2025 also saw the first ‘walkthrough’ visit of a professional to assist us in determining facility needs for any kind of emergency response.

A second congregational session was held on March 9, 2025.  Results of the Fire Marshal walkthrough (January) and of an electrician’s walkthrough (February) were presented to the group along with plans for door signage, fire extinguisher placement, and other basic implementations for Safer Congregations.

In the following months, several fire extinguishers were moved to more visible locations and reflective signs were placed to highlight them. Great Hall signage was installed with doors marked (outside and inside) North/South. This signage will be useful for evacuation information being developed now. 

In November 2025, 31 members and friends of First UU gathered to share information and ideas about how to ‘Put the Puzzle Pieces Together.’  Safer Congregations tends to be a vast and interconnected web of topics, each of which needs to be designed in conjunction with the others. The purpose of this report is to share that First UU is working towards an implementation of Safer Congregations that will serve the needs of the congregation and leadership as well as providing the structures and protocols necessary for our community to feel we are truly a Safer Congregation.

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Safer Congregations Training begins January 2026

Mark your calendars for three 3 training events coming your way in early 2026.
Saturday, January 17th:  Dave Brackins of Secure Community Network will present information concerning de-escalation, awareness, and protection. 10 am – 2.30 pm.
Register here.
Saturday, February 28th: Helen Dickison and Joe Johnston  of First UU will teach us the basics of hands-on First Aid and Trauma care.

Saturday, March 28th: Civilian Response and Casualty Care (CRCC). The multi-layered class provides information and exercises designed to support and empower a community in response to a variety of emergency situations.