St. Louis Archdiocese Priest Takes Proactive Approach to Emergency Preparedness
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) September 10, 2013 -- Father Tom Molini, a nationally-recognized pastor at St. Gerard Majella in Kirkwood, Missouri, is encouraging fellow archdiocesan schools and parishes to take a proactive approach regarding student safety. Father Molini recently partnered with emergency evacuation expert Med Sled® and has outfitted the new 40,000-square-foot Bishop John Gaydos Building at St. Gerard Majella Elementary School with the evacuation devices.
“Developing and implementing archdiocesan and school-based crisis management plans are more important now than ever,” said Father Molini. “Med Sled® provided a complete assessment of our facility, supplied hands-on training and completed drill support to ensure the proper use of the product when an emergency evacuation is necessary.”
In January 2011, St. Paul Church & School in Fenton, Missouri, a fellow archdiocesan school of St. Gerard’s, was completely demolished by an EF-3 tornado. Fortunately, the students were not present when the tornado hit, but the event serves as a reminder that over the past few years, the U.S. has experienced a record number of destructive natural disasters and an increase in man-made disasters, such as bomb incidents and active shooter situations, creating new worst-case scenarios that must be considered in evacuation planning.
“In light of the recent tragic events of Newtown, Connecticut and the devastating Moore, Oklahoma tornado, the need to address emergency preparedness and evacuation became an urgent priority,” said Father Molini. “Archdioceses across the country must plan ahead for the worst-case scenario and Med Sled® has been instrumental in assisting St. Gerard Majella on implementing our complete crisis management plan.”
Father Molini has recognized the importance of taking necessary precautions to help mitigate the risks of a disaster scenario, and is working closely with school administration and teaching staff of St. Gerard to update a school-based crisis management plan.
“Evacuations do not happen in a perfect environment, and Med Sled® has helped address the needs of all students, including those with disabilities, in implementing realistic training and drills for our parish,” said Father Molini. “Our children are our most precious treasure and we must do everything possible to protect them.”
About ARC Products, LLC and Med Sled®
ARC Products, LLC, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is a leading manufacturer of cost-effective evacuation solutions, including the Med Sled®. Since 2004, ARC has been developing products to support disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation to ensure that non-ambulatory individuals are transported safely in emergency situations. There are over 45,000 Med Sled® evacuation devices currently in use in over 2,800 facilities nationwide, including hospitals, nursing homes, fire and EMS, schools and universities, government facilities and the US military. The Med Sled® holds a U.S. patent for its design and is approved by the GSA. For more information, visit http://www.medsled.com.
Lauren Freinberg, Black Twig Communications, 314-536-8926, [email protected]
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