Stay with your team
No volunteer travels alone. Buddy teams stay together at every site, and all movement outside the approved schedule requires Safety Director approval.
Safety & Security
Safety Orientation
Every volunteer, staff member and partner serving on the Cap-Haïtien mission completes this orientation. Life safety comes before schedules, publicity, equipment and cost.
Non-negotiables
Eight safety requirements every volunteer follows
These rules apply from the moment you leave home until the team returns to the United States. Team leaders review them daily during the mission.
Check in and check out
Sign the accountability log every time you leave and return to housing. Headcounts are taken at departure, arrival and the close of each program day.
Approved transportation only
Use only mission-approved vehicles and drivers. Never accept a ride from an unapproved driver, and never ride in an overloaded vehicle.
Report every incident
Injuries, illness, near misses, vehicle events, safeguarding concerns and security concerns are all reported the same day using the incident report form.
Follow medical and hygiene rules
Drink treated water only, follow the hand hygiene protocol, and report any illness to the Medical Director before returning to a program site.
Protect children and vulnerable people
Two-adult rule at all times, no unsupervised contact, no photographs without permission, and immediate escalation of any safeguarding concern.
Respect curfew and housing rules
Housing access control, room assignments and curfew are safety measures. Do not prop doors, share keys or host outside visitors.
Follow instructions during an emergency
In an emergency, life safety comes first. Follow the Safety Director and Emergency Planning Coordinator instructions without debate or delay.
Emergencies
What to do when something happens
Report the same day. A written report protects the person involved, the team and the community we serve.
- Step 1
Make the scene safe
Move people away from danger and call for medical help first.
- Step 2
Tell your team leader
Notify your team leader and the Safety Officer on duty immediately.
- Step 3
File the report
Submit the incident report online and keep the reference number.
- Step 4
Follow up
The Incident Reporting Coordinator records the outcome and closes the report.
Safety packets
Search the Safety & Security workspace
Each safety role has a full responsibility packet. Search by keyword or filter by topic, then read the packet online. Packet files are reserved for signed-in department leaders; the compiled handbook is open to everyone.
8 of 8 packets
Safety & Security Director
Owns the whole safety program: risk assessment, travel standards, volunteer accountability, housing and transportation security, and the authority to pause any activity that is not safe.
- leadership
- risk
- travel
- housing
- transportation
- escalation
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Risk Assessment Coordinator
Identifies, scores and monitors the risks that could affect volunteers, beneficiaries and program sites, and turns them into practical controls leadership can act on.
- risk
- planning
- monitoring
- site safety
- weather
- civil conditions
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Emergency Planning Coordinator
Builds and rehearses the emergency, medical evacuation, shelter-in-place and communication plans, and keeps emergency contact trees current.
- emergency
- evacuation
- medical
- drills
- communications
- continuity
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Incident Reporting Coordinator
Runs the incident reporting system end to end: intake, classification, escalation timelines, investigation notes, corrective action and closure records.
- incident
- reporting
- investigation
- records
- escalation
- follow-up
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Crowd Safety Coordinator
Plans capacity, entry and exit flow, queue management and crowd control for clinics, distributions, crusade meetings and other large gatherings.
- crowds
- events
- queues
- capacity
- distribution
- crusade
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Housing Safety Coordinator
Inspects and approves volunteer lodging: fire safety, room assignments, access control, water and sanitation standards, and overnight accountability.
- housing
- lodging
- fire safety
- access control
- curfew
- inspection
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Transportation Safety Coordinator
Sets vehicle, driver and route standards, manages daily manifests, and coordinates safe movement between the airport, housing and program sites.
- transportation
- vehicles
- drivers
- routes
- manifest
- airport
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
Volunteer Accountability Coordinator
Tracks every volunteer at all times: roll call, buddy teams, check-in and check-out logs, and rapid headcounts during any emergency.
- accountability
- roll call
- headcount
- check-in
- buddy system
- roster
Read packetDownload available to signed-in leaders
The Safety & Security Handbook is a summary compiled from the coordinator packets. It does not replace medical advice, local law, or the instructions of the Safety & Security Director during deployment.