Volunteer Safety Training

Attention PTA Volunteers, Room Parents, Classroom Volunteers and PTA Members: You are invited to participate in a FREE Volunteer Safety Training class on Saturday, November 10th organized by the Chesterfield County Council of PTAs. Training will include Adult and Child CPR, First Aid, AED and use of Epi-pens. Volunteers who work with students either during school hours, at after school events or at PTA sponsored events are highly encouraged to attend. Registration is required and is open until maximum capacity is reached or Nov. 8th, which ever comes first. Click the link for more information and to register for training.

REGISTER HERE

This training will be especially beneficial for PTA Members who are active volunteers during Enrichment programs sponsored by their local unit PTA.  Several of our local unit PTAs/PTSAs offer organized Enrichment events and programs at their school after regular school hours.  There is a common misconception among parents that because PTAs are holding the program at their school that the CCPS rules that apply to school employees also pertain to the PTA.  This is incorrect.  

When a PTA or PTSA uses a school facility to run an event they are required to fill out a Facility Request Form and are renting the facility.  PTA volunteers do not have access to medications stored for students in the school clinic.  Volunteers also do not have access to student medical files or emergency contact information.  In most cases, depending on the day and time of the PTA event, your school clinic will be closed and office personnel may not be available.  In those cases, as Volunteers supervising students, the responsibility of the health and welfare of those students falls to the PTA.  

Current legislation does NOT require PTA Volunteers to attend CPR or First Aid Training.  There are many other non-profit organizations working with youth that DO require their volunteers to participate in safety training and most require volunteers to actively keep their skills up-to-date.  Some even require volunteers to have CPR or First Aid certifications and attend annual or biennial refresher courses.  

PTAs/PTSAs should take safety precautions into consideration when sponsoring events such as Carnivals, Dances, running or exercise clubs, organized races and other programs with an increased risk of physical activity injuries or emergencies.  Always have a First Aid Kit available, ensure that you have a means for contacting Emergency Services if needed and when registering students for activities, request emergency contact information, special medical requirements and allergy information.  Keep this information readily available during the duration of your event.  Ensure that your local unit has PTA insurance and periodically review your insurance policy to make certain that it covers medical situations or injuries.  

Attending Volunteer Safety Training and taking these necessary precautions are just a few things that PTAs/PTSAs can do to ensure the safety of our students.               

County Council Calendar 2012-2013

How Your Health & Safety Committee Can Help

You may be wondering what the purpose of a Health & Safety Committee is.  The Committee’s goals are to reduce risky behaviors and increase good health among all of Virginia’s children by promoting concepts of safety prevention and health wellness among PTAs, and effect laws and regulations to insure the health and safety of Virginia’s children and communities. 

The scope of the committee’s work includes, but is not limited to issues dealing with childhood obesity, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, food allergies, environmental protection, violent games and videos, gang activity, juvenile crime and justice, truancy, risky relationships, homelessness, runaways, missing and exploited children, conflict resolution, childhood accident prevention, substance abuse, and teenage drivers as they pertain to your grade levels.  This is accomplished through training and resources provided through local units as well as County Council and State PTA. 

Here is an outline of how our State PTA works in collaboration with Chesterfield County Council and Local Unit PTAs on educating and providing programs for their communities:

State Committee Focus

• Encourage local units and councils to have functioning Health and Safety Committees, and to provide them with the information and resources needed to get started and to operate at their fullest potential
• Provide training to local units on PTA sponsored programs dealing with current Health and Safety issues
• Encourage councils, local units, and individuals to be involved in the PTA legislative process in the area of Health and Safety 
• Seek funds (grants and/or business partnerships) for local unit school health projects
• Represent Virginia PTA on coalitions and organizations regarding healthy and safety issues 
• Speak for PTA at public hearings in regards to children and adolescent health and safety issues
• Work in cooperation with other Virginia PTA committees on related health risks and safety issues 
• Administer the Family Fitness Grant Program, when funds are available.

County Council Committee Focus

• Encourage local units to have functioning Health and Safety Committees, and to provide them with the information and resources needed to get started and to operate at their fullest potential
• Keeps membership aware of current issues regarding the health of children
• Informs membership of any changes or additions to the immunization of children
• Provides program ideas and information addressing health and safety issues among youth
• Encourages physical fitness and healthy eating among student and school staff members
• Encourages parents to make their voices heard on concerns regarding school safety and the implementation of safe school plans within all public schools
• Utilize the legislation program to remain up to date with current health and safety issues,  communicate changes and work with the community to promote change through the PTA’s legislative process
• Become focused on health issues such as Childhood Obesity, Physical Fitness, Environment, Clean Air, Immunization, Vision Screenings, Tobacco, Second Hand Smoke, Alcohol and School Nursing
• Become focused on safety issues such as Violence, Violent Videos, Gangs, truancy, risky relationships, homelessness, runaways, missing, bus safety, childhood accident prevention, substance abuse, and teenage drivers. 

Local Unit Focus

• Establish a Health and Safety Committee that will provide programs that meet the needs of their community
• The committee should encourage membership from parents, local business persons, and school administration, teachers, clergy, and health care professionals. The committee should submit a written evaluation of their program
• Perform a survey of community to assess the type of programs and initiatives that will best serve its constituency, provides communication, information, and programs for its community
• Utilize the legislation program to remain up to date with current health and safety issues by working with the community and/or individuals to promote change through the PTA’s legislative process
• Become focused on health issues such as Childhood Obesity, Physical Fitness, Environment, Clean Air, Immunization, Vision Screenings, Tobacco, Second Hand Smoke, Alcohol, and School Nursing.
• Become focused on safety issues such as Violence, Violent Videos, Gangs, truancy, risky relationships, homelessness, runaways, missing, bus safety, childhood accident prevention, substance abuse, and teenage drivers.

If you do not currently have a Health & Safety Committee within your local PTA unit and would like to learn how to get started, please contact Maria Cox, Chesterfield County Council of PTAs/PTSAs Health & Safety Committee Chair at healthandsafety@cccptas.com or contact your Virginia State PTA Health & Safety Committee Chair, Michelle Prescott at healthandsafety@vapta.org.