It seems simple enough, yet it is one of the church's most vulnerable areas and that is emergency exits.

Emergency exits are created for safety in the event of an evacuation yet very often emergency exits become just another way to enter or exit the church.

And what I have found fairly often when I have conducted Risk Assessments is emergency exits that are unlocked from the outside, propped open to defeat the lock, and even left wide open as en easy way to bypass main entrances and exits.

Some of the pictures in this article are actual pictures I have taken while conducting these Risk Assessments at churches, and shows the vulnerability of not using these for their intended purpose.

I have written about this before and lecture on it regularly, but in case this information is new to you, here it is again with a new resource to help you.

Here are the risks main risks:

1. If the emergency exit is propped open it allows people from the outside in, through an uncontrolled access point

2. If an emergency exit is not controlled by some type of alarm or delayed egress system, someone can enter the church and very quickly exit out an emergency exit with something valuable in-hand, which may be a child or infant

3. When the church allows people to use emergency exits as just regular entrances and exits staff and volunteers don't pay attention anymore who is going in and out of these points, thus making points one and two even more easy

The Christian Security Network was recently contacted by a company that has now signed on as a sponsor to eliminate this problem in an easy and affordable way for churches.

And as we were excited to have Honeywell, Protect My Ministry, AMU, and Navigate Tomorrow as sponsors because we feel they all bring some needed resources to the Christian community, Magnetic Lock Kits will now provide excellent solutions to a very serious security issue for all churches.

Magnetic Lock Kits is an international wholesale supplier of electric locks, magnetic locks, electric strikes, electric deadbolts, door and gate access control and accessories and because they are wholesale they offer complete kits that you may install yourself on all your emergency exits.

Their website link and phone number may be found in our Newsletter and on the front page of the CSN website.

They have a variety of options from alarms to delayed egress to access control kits and have the experience to help you select the right option for your church.

As with all security measures you do not have to install this equipment on all your emergency exits at once; add them as your time and budget allows. And always check with your local Fire Marshal or Inspector to ensure that there are not any codes that would stop you from installing these or any other type of system.

My suggestion is to start with those emergency exits that are closest to your children's areas - Sunday School, classrooms, and nurseries; these are the most vulnerable.

Installing these devices is probably going to be another "culture shift" for your staff, volunteers, and congregation.

And yes, there will be whining.

You will hear "But I always use this door to come in and out", "Now I have to walk all the way around to the front" and the classic "What if it is (raining, snowing, windy, too hot, too humid, too sunny - insert your favorite inconvenience excuse here)".

But as with all changes people won't die because of the change and they will adapt. Before you know it they won't even remember that they used to use these doors for their unintended purpose and some may actually realize that it is for their safety and those they love.

These security devices are one of the few that you truly cannot argue against - they protect life and property for a very small cost and lessen the need for people posted in areas to watch these doors.

So do a review of your exterior and interior doors and identify those emergency exits that should just never be used as an entrance/exit and then give the folks at Magnetic Lock Kits a call to see how you can phase this layer of security in your church!

I look forward to the day where I can walk into almost any church and see their emergency exits protected and secure.

In Christ,
Jeff Hawkins
Executive Director

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