Children are our future, so it’s important that we keep them safe. With the recent increase in school emergencies, it is essential that schools take steps to not only prevent a crisis, but also react properly in the event of one.
We’ve put together a list of 5 tips for better school safety:
- Awareness: The first step in securing your school is to be aware that there are possible threats. We live in a much different world today than we did while growing up, and we cannot ignore the threats around us. We can’t predict what is going to happen, but we can make sure that we are equipped to deal with any emergencies that come our way.
- Safety Assessments: Once you realize that the threat of emergencies is real, it’s time to assess your environment. Find your weakest points and strengthen them. Are there doors that are always open and never guarded? Lock them or position a security guard there. Is it harder to keep track of children during lunch? Increase security or enlist the help of teachers during busy times.
- Guidance: This tip is especially important these days, as some threats come from the children themselves. Don’t just hire a counselor to fill a spot. Hire a counselor that children will want to go and talk to. Students need to feel comfortable enough around their guidance counselor that they won’t feel embarrassed to go to them when they need someone to talk to or if they have concerns about a classmate.
- Crisis Training: All security, staff and students need to know what to do in the event of a crisis. Hold assemblies and drills for students on a monthly basis, and hold meetings for all staff either monthly or biweekly. Stay up to date on recent news and security technology and make sure your staff is up to date as well. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of students, and that means making sure everyone in the building is prepared to react in case of an emergency.
- Security: Lastly, install a security system and/or hire a security company that is trained to handle a crisis. Choose a company, like ORNA, that matches security guards to your environment. It’s essential that students and staff feel comfortable, and more importantly safe, around security guards.
Use these tips to secure your school. Prevention is key, but it’s also important to be ready to react in the event of an emergency. To learn more about how you can use security to increase safety in your school, call us today at 305-945-5022.
