Safety & Security Team Stress Test

Benefits of Scenario Based Training

“The body won’t go where the mind has not already been.” We’ve heard a lot of security professionals say something very similar to this statement when they talk about how important it is to not only train, but to practice different scenarios that could happen at your church or school.

While training for a high impact situation like an armed intruder is key, safety and security teams also should practice scenarios such as a medical emergency, disruptive individual, severe weather, and lost child.

“Training is the learning ground, it’s where you can make mistakes and explore ways to improve,” said Craig Cable, a church safety specialist and professional trainer who works for Lightwell Insurance Advisors.

This helps pressure test your policies and practices to improve your team’s effectiveness. Setting up scenarios in the environment where the event is likely to occur helps volunteers see the opportunities and challenges in that space. For example, practice disruptions in the sanctuary, kid-based scenarios in the children’s ministry area, or medical emergencies in gathering spaces.

Whether it’s a couple arguing in the parking lot, disruptive individual during service, or custody dispute in the children’s wing, emotionally charged situations can quickly escalate. If volunteers aren’t trained to deal with the added stress, their own emotions can take over, leading to poor decisions and the potential for injury or liability for your ministry.

Training also is an opportunity to see how team members will react during stressful situations. This enables the team to practice appropriate responses to verbal challenges and allows participants to adjust their approach to help calm the situation. It also helps volunteers see the ministry opportunity in helping people through stressful or emotional situations. Cable explains this helps security team members to see the person, not just the problem.

“Using your words to help find common ground, and getting people to comply with the ask, can resolve issues peacefully, and that’s what we call the WIN,” he said. WIN stands for What’s Important Now, and it’s a helpful reminder to maintain proper perspective. For most situations, Cable advises, “You need team members who can pull back on the things they want to say and focus on the things they need to say.”

To help security team volunteers learn how to safely de-escalate potentially threatening situations, they need to first learn how to control their natural reactions. Realistic training scenarios introduce stress in a controlled environment, helping your team prepare to handle chaotic scenes with composure and calm.

Stress Inoculation

Without proper preparation, even small disagreements can turn into full-blown shouting matches. What starts as a request to leave the building can end in a physical altercation. Even mild-mannered volunteers can unintentionally escalate a situation if they lack the training to keep their emotions in check. To help successfully resolve situations, security team members need to be inoculated from the stress. Using realistic training scenarios can help volunteers become more accustomed to controlling their emotions. As a result, they can think more clearly and stay focused on safely resolving the confrontation. This helps protect the volunteer, the ministry, and the individual causing the disruption.

De-stress Adding to your Team

Make sure your volunteer team is covered for costs resulting from injuries and damaged equipment with security operations coverage.* Ask a Lightwell insurance advisor for more details.

* All coverage decisions and payment terms are subject to their terms, conditions, coverage limits, limitations, and exclusions. For precise detail of coverages and payment terms, please refer to actual policy forms.

This article from the Safety Library at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company is used with permission. The information provided is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.

Article originally written 2021 and updated September 2024.