Girl Scout Creates a Culture of Safety at her Church
Abigayle Johnson from Rowley, Iowa, has achieved the Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, for developing a safety program in her church community. After witnessing medical emergencies at her church, Johnson stepped up to ensure the congregation had the supplies and training necessary for members needing assistance.
Members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Independence, Iowa, have experienced four medical emergencies, ranging from falls to chest pains to broken bones.
“Research shows completing CPR while waiting for the ambulance could double or triple someone's chance of survival, and the church did not have the supplies to help them while the ambulance was on the way,” says Johnson. “We have a growing elderly population and few medically trained professionals in our congregation.”
The Gold Award Girl Scout is passionate about the health and safety of her community and discovered that most community members are not CPR or AED trained.
“The more education we can provide, the more lives we can save,” says Johnson.
Thanks to a Buchanan County Health Trust grant, Johnson purchased and installed an AED machine and an extensive First Aid Kit. She then provided CPR and AED training so all members could be prepared in an emergency, launching a safety committee at the church. Johnson reignited a culture of safety in her church community!
“After the training, some members purchased small First Aid Kits, including CPR face shields, to keep in their purses or car. One member said they were buying kits for their adult kids for Christmas,” says Johnson. “It was nice to see my plans and suggestions put to good use. The committee now has a plan and regular checks of the safety concerns throughout the church.
Abigayle Johnson currently attends Independence High School and will graduate in 2026. Our future looks bright with young leaders like Johnson!
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers. They learn resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills, giving them an edge personally and professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs.
According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. Changing the world doesn’t end when a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.
