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Schools are a place for learning, and no parent ought to worry about the safety of their child while away. The reverse is the case as there are a number of reported school violence, prominent in public schools.
According to the US National Center for Education Statistics, there were 29 incidents of violence and crime per 1,000 students enrolled in schools between 2019 and 2020.
Schools’ safety is a collective effort. Parents, students, teachers and administrators need to be actively involved.
Below are some exciting ways to increase safety in schools;
Thorough inspection
Students get injured while commuting to school due to bad roads and a lack of proper signboards. Concerned authorities in such neighborhoods can ensure routes to school are safe for students.
Speed breakers may be enforced for drivers while proper signboards are placed at the necessary locations.
School infrastructure is another thing that needs to be thoroughly inspected. The water and food served to children should be checked to ascertain they are not contaminated.
The school fence should always be checked too. Any opening can give access to intruders and stray animals.
First Aid training
First aid is vital to reduce complications of an emergency health issue or physical injury. Students can be trained on the basics of first aid, while teachers should be able to comfortably administer first aid treatment to any child in an emergency.
They can apply the proper procedures before the arrival of a doctor.
Only use a few entryways
The entryways to the school should be limited as much as possible. All other entries should be locked with signs directing people to use the main entrance. This help to keep better surveillance of the school premises.
For optimal assurance of this, the doors and windows at these entries need to be periodically checked for any break-in or deformity.
Technology
Leverage technology for improved safety in the school. A GPS tracker can be installed in the school bus to monitor the students’ movement to and fro.
CCTV should also be installed on the bus and the school for live activities coverage.
School emergency alert system needs to be deployed to make it easy for anyone to contact the authorities, such as the police, when a situation warrants immediate intervention.
Guards
Security guards on school premises can offer first observation protection. They ensure the safety of the students and teachers. Unauthorized members of the public are barred from accessing the property.
Occasional patrol by guards during school hours can also save a student from bullying. The school will also be secured overnight or when empty as they will be around to protect it.
Fire safety training
Pupils need to be drilled each term on fire safety. This will equip them with the knowledge of what to do in the case of a real fire.
Aside from students’ and teachers’ training, the school’s fire safety systems must be updated. Fire extinguishers, for instance, should not have expired. The school can contact the local fire service to confirm if its fire safety systems are updated.
Fire service personnel are also in the best position to offer tips on enhanced fire safety.
Traffic rules awareness
Road safety rules awareness is paramount for all students. It is the responsibility of the school to educate them on this. This will prevent careless passing and crossing of roads.
Some of the traffic rules for pupils include:
- Signals: Students need to know that when the sign is red, it means stop. Yellow means ready, and green means you can now cross.
- Let pupils know that it is essential to look right, left, right and left again before crossing the road. They should not cross if they notice any approaching vehicle.
Sports safety education and enforcement
Injuries during sports are inevitable, at the same time, they can be mitigated. Advise children on the precautions to take. Install safety equipment in the sports area.
Enforce the use of required safety equipment, such as helmets for games.
Anonymous reporting system
Implement a system that allows students to report suspicious development in the school anonymously. It could be a suggestion box or a student hotline to report bullies.
Students sometimes find it hard to report things that could compromise school security. This kind of system allows them to reveal what they see without the fear of being attacked by the culprit.
Research and constant update
Safety procedures are constantly updated. Always keep abreast of the latest security methodologies and technologies. Engage the service of experts if need be.
When there is a need to adopt new technology, train students, teachers and any other persons that may use it.
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