FERRIDAY — The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office will host its second church safety seminar beginning Monday.

The sheriff’s office held its first seminar in January to address a number of church shootings across the nation in the last decade.

CPSO Chief Deputy David Hedrick said the previous program was a success, with more than 100 people in attendance representing 37 churches from both sides of the Mississippi River.

“The outpouring of support from the community really spoke to the need of it,” Hedrick said. “This program will be a little more advanced and really develop responses to dangerous situations.”

Participants will develop an emergency action plan for their church in the event of a crisis situation such as an active shooter.

The number of church members in attendance is not limited for the free Safety in the Place of Worship Seminar, which will be held over three days starting at 6 p.m. on March 5, 6 and 8 at the Concordia Parish Community Center in Ferriday.

Alongside learning an emergency response plan, Hedrick said participants would learn trauma-management techniques and first-aid training, threat assessment and management, physical security and some self-defense training.

The sessions are generally three hours — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. — and will include several demonstrations including the use of stun guns, applying tourniquets and performing first aid.

Hedrick said though the program is tailored to aid church members, the skills learned in the seminar will apply to most emergency situations.

“We put way more emphasis on the medical side,” he said. “These things are not only beneficial to security — it teaches residents first aid in general. The lessons learned in this class are not only going to help people in church — it can help in a wreck or in an accident or any situation.”

Hedrick said he plans to hold several similar seminars in the future, each one updating information about churches’ emergency action plans and response techniques.

“Every time we hold a class, we learn something, too,” he said. “This class will be showing church members some of the things we’ve learned since the last seminar. We want everyone to feel safe.”

Following the seminar, Hedrick said deputies and investigators with the sheriff’s office will come to churches who request aid in setting up security plans.

“We’ve had several churches ask us to come by and help out,” Hedrick said. “We’re offering a really individual approach to church safety.”

The seminar is open to all churches. Those who are interested can sign up by calling Lt. Glen McGlothin at 318-336-2881.