SAFETY FIRST
YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES
QUARTERLY EMPLOYEE SAFETY NEWSLETTER - February 2018
 
Hello Fellow Staff Team Members,
 
Welcome to the Winter 2018 edition of our "Safety First" newsletter.
 
You will see by the articles contained within this newsletter that your safety and the security of our members and participants remain of paramount importance to the YMCA.
 
Based on recent events, both locally and nationally as well as within and outside of the YMCA, it has never been more important to remain vigilant in our efforts to protect those who utilize our programs and services.
 
By the time that you receive this newsletter you will have also received notification about a series of theft incidents within our YMCA facilities over the past couple of weeks. The individuals involved in these incidents have been apprehended and have been charged with felony offenses of theft and credit card fraud.
 
While we are grateful that the perpetrators have been caught and jailed, we are also aware that we have more work to do to tighten our security measures related to entrance into our facilities. Each branch is currently in the process of assessing their respective facility access policies as well as security camera placement.
 
A special "Thank You" to staff members and local police departments who were involved in the investigation of these incidents, which led to the subsequent arrest.
 
Recently, we were notified of a horrifying situation at an After School site managed by a YMCA in Jeffersonville, Indiana. An 18 year old man has been charged with a total of 24 counts of child molestation after police say he inappropriately touched 17 children ages 3 to 7 while working as a teaching assistant at an elementary school and at the local YMCA. This individual also worked directly for the school as part of the school's Cadet Teaching program and is also charged with molesting children in the school's hallway, cafeteria and on the playground. This heartbreaking situation reinforces the need for us to monitor and be diligent with the administration of our policies and procedures within our walls and out in our gyms, fields, day camps and dozens of school sites. As a YMCA, we continue to pray for the children and families impacted by this tragic situation.
 
Finally, our entire country has felt the pain endured by the victims of Larry Nassar as he assaulted hundreds of gymnasts at all levels over a number of years. Once again, we pray for the victims and their families as they try to move beyond the destruction caused by this individual.
 
Team sports continue to be a major part of our program offerings within our YMCA and our Swim, Dance and Gymnastics Teams are among the strongest in Wisconsin. We take our responsibility to protect the children on our teams very seriously. Our YMCA:
  • Conducts criminal background checks, sex offender registry checks and reference checks on all staff prior to hiring;
  • Conducts criminal background checks and sex offender registry checks on all volunteers;
  • Requires all staff and volunteers to complete training on recognizing and preventing abuse;
  • Prohibits staff and volunteers from being alone with a child where they cannot be observed by others;
  • Restricts staff contact with children outside of YMCA programs;
  • Educates parents on how to recognize and prevent abuse; and
  • Reports any allegations or suspicions of abuse to law enforcement.
For more than 130 years, our YMCA has served our community with distinction and pride as an organization focused on youth development. We are committed to helping kids grow up happy, healthy and strong.
 
Thank you for all that you do to protect our children and to provide a welcoming and safe environment at the Y. Enjoy your reading!
 
Sincerely,
 
Bill Breider
President / CEO

CHILD SAFETY

Brian Rammer, Associate Executive Director, Neenah-Menasha YMCA 

Tom Wendt, Associate Executive Director, Appleton YMCA

Our YMCA of the Fox Cities continues to keep the importance of child safety at the forefront.  With unfortunate examples of child abuse and child sexual abuse happening across the country, it is imperative that we continue to do all we can to make sure that our Y facilities and programs are safe.  To that end, we have put together a Child Abuse Prevention booklet that compiles our Y's policies, procedures and best practices.  Most of the information included in this booklet is not new, but included in one location.  It includes five main areas:
  • General Definitions
  • Code of Conduct with Youth - We have revised for both staff and volunteers.
  • Policies/Best Practices
  • Monitoring and Supervision
  • Responding
We will be providing various ways to communicate information on each of these areas with our staff.  If you would like to review the Abuse Prevention booklet, it can be found HERE


AVOID WINTER SLIPS AND FALLS
Sharon Johnson, Executive Director, Heart of the Valley YMCA

Winter is a time of year when hear of more people falling due to slippery conditions, wet floors or cold, stiff bodies.  Here are a few ideas to keep yourself safe from slips and falls:
 
PREVENTION:
  • Wear proper foot gear.
  • Take smaller steps when walking.
  • Walk slowly and never run on icy ground.
  • Keep both hands free for balance rather than in your pockets.
  • Use handrails from start to finish.
  • Avoid carrying loads.
  • Keep your eyes on where you are going.
  • Test potentially slick areas by tapping your foot on them.
  • Step-don't jump from vehicles or equipment.
  • Keep walkways clear of debris, water, ice and slippery materials.
SAFE WINTER WALKING/EXERCISING:
  • Plan ahead; give yourself sufficient time and plan your route.
  • Wear shoes that provide traction on snow or ice: rubber and neoprene composite. Avoid plastic or leather soles.
  • Walk in designated walkways as much as possible.
  • If a walkway is completely covered with ice; try to travel along its grassy edge for traction.
  • When given no choice but to walk on ice, consider the following:
    • Take short steps or shuffle for stability.
    • Bend slightly, walk flat-footed with your center of gravity directly over the feet as much as possible.
BE PREPARED  TO FALL:
  • If you fall, fall with sequential contacts at your thigh, hip and shoulder to avoid using your arms to protect against breakage.
  • Roll with the fall. Try to twist and roll backwards, rather than falling forward.
  • Relax as much as possible when you begin to fall.
  • Bend your back and head forward so you won't slam your head on the pavement as your feet shoot out from under you.
  • Toss the load you are carrying. Protect yourself instead of the objects being carried. When entering buildings, remove snow and water from footwear to prevent wet slippery conditions indoors.
Information found at Occupational Medicine and Wellness, Wheaten Franciscan Healthcare.

SHOO THE FLU
Sara Tilkens, Human Resource Director, YMCA of the Fox Cities
stilkens@ymcafoxcities.org

PREVENTION OF THE FLU AT WORK
Influenza has hit our community hard this winter, but there are ways to be diligent in preventing the spread of sickness while at work.  We happen to work in environments where there is a lot of public contact.  Thankfully, most prevention is common sense and being cautious.  OSHA provides the below basics on their website and also this Flu IQ quiz.  By following some simple basics and being educated, we can all help minimize any exposure. 
 
What's your Flu IQ?  Click this link to take the quiz: 


ENCOURAGE SICK WORKERS TO STAY HOME
The CDC recommends that workers who have a fever and respiratory symptoms stay at home until 24 hours after their fever ends (100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.8 degrees Celsius] or lower), without the use of medication. Not everyone who has the flu will have a fever. Other symptoms could include a runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

PROMOTE HAND HYGIENE AND COUGH ETIQUETTE
Post signs that tell workers, visitors, and clients the steps for proper  hand hygiene  and  cough etiquette .   Workers, visitors, and clients should have easy access to supplies such as:
  • "No touch" wastebaskets for used tissues
  • Soap and water
  • Alcohol-based hand rubs
  • Disposable towels
  • Cleaning and sanitation materials
Lobbies, halls, and restrooms should have the above items and workers should know where they are.

KEEP THE WORKPLACE CLEAN
Frequently clean all commonly touched work surfaces, work areas, and equipment (e.g., telephones, doorknobs, lunch areas, counter tops, copiers, etc.).   Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended by the CDC.   Provide disinfectants and disposable towels for workers to use to clean their work spaces and surfaces and to keep work areas clean.


DATA SAFETY
Sharon Pickering, Chief Financial Officer, YMCA of the Fox Cities
 
CLEAN DATA - WHY?
So often we hear people talk about clean data, but why? What makes data valuable? Its source? Its quantity? Its format? No, the value of data depends on what we do with it. Data is almost worthless if left in a state of chaos.
 
As we implemented Daxko Operations over a year ago, data management was a hot topic. Why? Essentially, our past software had thousands and thousands of records, but very little value to us because of our inability to use the data for reporting. Our goal with Daxko Operations is to make sure our data is clean so we can have all of the items below which lead to a better competitive advantage:

  • Remember to review and use our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are found in the SWAP drive: 
    SWAP/02 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/Daxko
    If you do not have access to the SWAP drive, please ask your supervisor for a copy of the SOP you need.  These SOPs were developed so that anyone who works in Daxko Operations will enter information in the exact same way.
  • If you have been assigned data audit tasks, make sure you do them as scheduled. All of the time spent on audits now cuts down on the items that will clutter our systems.
  • If you are interested in data management, ask your supervisor how you can help the Y keep clean, concise data.

MEMBER SAFETY AND SECURITY
Sue Pawlowski, Membership and Marketing Director, YMCA of the Fox Cities
 
At the Y, our members' safety and security is extremely important. So we need to be sure we are checking everyone who is entering our facilities for proper identification. We have processes and procedures in place to ensure the Y is a safe place to be and we are currently taking steps for improvements.

YMCA MEMBERS
All members, staff and guests are required to check-in at the Scanner or Member Services Desk and must have their membership card or photo ID when checking in. Please be responsible, when you enter a Y facility please be sure to scan your membership card or show your YMCA name tag. You can easily load your membership card number on our Y APP for easy access when you enter the Y. Stop by the desk and the staff can help you load your membership number on to your APP.

PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
Program participants are expected to show a program pass each time they enter our facilities. If someone does not have a pass to enter the facility we need to have them step to the member services desk to verify their registration.

In some cases we currently do not have a pass for those entering the facility at some branches which include pick up from preschool or drop in child care. We are currently working on enhancing this process.

Every person who steps through the doors of a YMCA of the Fox Cities is asked to uphold the YMCA Membership Code of Conduct. Any individual that cannot follow these standards will be denied a membership.

YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES CODE OF CONDUCT
The YMCA of the Fox Cities is founded on Christian principles and values and prohibits inappropriate behavior and conduct. This includes, but is not limited to, profanity or abusive language, inappropriate or revealing attire, smoking, use of alcohol or drugs, sexually explicit conversation or behavior, any sexual contact with another person, harassment or intimidation, the removal of YMCA property, carrying or concealing a weapon or criminal conduct of any type.

Such inappropriate behavior or conduct is unacceptable and the YMCA consequently retains the right to deny memberships to its applicants and to revoke a membership of any current member or participant at its sole discretion. In addition, the YMCA reserves the right to deny access or membership to any person who has been accused or convicted of any crime involving child and/or 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.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Members and guests are encouraged to take responsibility for their personal comfort and safety by asking any person whose behavior threatens their comfort to refrain from such behavior. Anyone who feels uncomfortable in confronting a person directly should report the behavior to a staff person or the building supervisor on duty. The YMCA is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all members and guests. To promote safety and comfort for all, all individuals are asked to act appropriately at all times when in our facility or participating in our programs. In further consideration of being permitted to enter the YMCA of the Fox Cities (hereinafter referred to as the Y) for any purpose including, but not limited to, observation or use of facilities or equipment or participation in any off-site program affiliated with the Y. 

  YMCA of the Fox Cities| 920.739.6135 | ymcafoxcities.org 
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