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By Ingrid Brunkhorst Hurrell
AN Abbotsford church became a hive of activity last
April, as emergency workers from surrounding communities responded to a 911
call.
Part of the church hall floor at Central Heights
collapsed during a Starfield concert, sending some 40 people tumbling down
to the basement.
Injured youth were treated for their physical injuries.
But what about the emotional impact of such an experience? This is
precisely why Abbotsford Victim Services teams were dispatched to the
church.
Volunteers join Victim Services for different reasons.
Some want to give back to their community, or simply learn how to respond
to disasters such as the one in Abbotsford.
I joined as a new immigrant to Canada, to learn more
about my adopted country’s people, ways and beliefs.
As Christians, we need training to be prepared for
accidents and disasters, so we can serve our communities in times of need.
Being from South Africa, where the high incidence of
crime and violence has been traumatic, I felt I could be of support to
victims here.
Speaking for myself, this was my motto: to show
God’s compassionate care in a way that made sense to those I came
into contact with.
Working alongside the existing infrastructure and
community-based organizations, Victim Services is a police-based program.
General office hours are kept by the staff and
volunteers, but there are always team members on call who respond to a
crisis such as the mass-trauma event at the church.
Whether an individual suffers trauma from a vehicle
collision, an armed robbery, domestic violence, the sudden death of a
relative or friend, or witnessing a crime, the staff and volunteers from
any Victim Services unit are ready to help.
“Our goal is to provide immediate and ongoing
support to victims and witnesses of crime and trauma, in an effort to
minimize trauma and prevent revictimization,” says Carolyn Burns,
manager of the Victim Services team at the Langley RCMP detachment.
Potential volunteers are screened and interviewed,
before starting an extensive training program run by Victim Services.
Volunteers are trained in emotional support,
counselling referrals, assistance with sudden death notifications,
information on the criminal justice system, court orders and orientation,
crisis intervention on the scene, and how to interact with community-based
organizations.
Practical aspects, such as the use of a police radio on
crisis calls, and protocol in dealing with the media, are taught as well.
Strict guidelines regarding privacy and confidentiality are taught.
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Care for a community starts with one person; thus, the
core of Victim Services is founded on compassion for the individual.
Having talked in-depth with some of the other
volunteers at the Langley detachment, it was clear to me that these teams
have one passion: the people they serve.
Clients come first – hence the willingness to
respond to crisis calls, even if they come at two in the morning!
As the victims of the church accident in Abbotsford
will attest, no one expected the floor to collapse. That’s true of
any crisis.
No one really expects an accident, a homicide,
burglary, armed robbery or sudden death.
Each of us will likely be impacted by some form of
crisis or trauma at some time.
It’s impossible to be totally prepared for such
situations, making the role of Victim Services in any community even more
necessary – and something to be applauded.
What better way to show one’s love for God and
other people, than to be part of such an awesome team of volunteers?
Even though I am no longer part of Victim Services, I
came away with a renewed sense of how necessary it is for us to be trained
in disaster and emergency preparedness.
I am reminded of the story of George Müller, a man
known for his faith. As a passenger on a ship that caught fire, Müller
received a frantic call from the ship’s captain – who cried
out: “Please pray!”
Müller’s response was: “You pray. I
will get a bucket of water.”
There is a time to pray, but there is also a time for
picking up that bucket of water!
Are you on this ‘bucket list?’
Langley RCMP Victim Services is looking for volunteers.
Contact: 604-532-3214. Further information is available at policevictimservices.bc.ca
February 2009
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