Five steps schools should take to ensure child safety
Schools are the foundation of every child’s education; they create an environment to develop life skills that will take them into the future. To build a strong educational foundation, children need to feel safe and secure when they are at school.
The best way for schools to provide this safety is by having emergency plans in place. This is in order to alert parents if anything should happen while their child is attending classes.
Create an emergency response plan
Schools should create an emergency response plan that includes procedures that all staff members must follow. These procedures are important in case of almost any type of emergency (extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, etc.)
For example, in the case of a fire drill, all children and staff must know where they should meet up for a headcount, such as under the school canopies or on the playing field. Because schools are usually crowded places with little space between students and staff members, it is crucial to have a plan of action. This is so that everyone knows what they should do.
Regularly update school safety plans
The most important part of child safety is the preparation that goes into it before an emergency happens. A school should have a document that outlines how children are to be evacuated or what will happen if they are not able to evacuate on their own.
This plan needs updating on a regular basis. Moreover, this is so every employee knows the proper procedures and everyone is aware of changes.
Advantages of having an emergency response plan
- Parents and students can feel secure that there is a proper system in place to keep kids safe and healthy.
- Update the emergency plan regularly with new information as it becomes available. This is crucial because children change often and may need different ways of escaping or staying safe over time.
- Students will better understand their role in the safety plan, which can reduce confusion during emergencies.
Provide teachers with health and safety training
Teachers need to have access to education regarding the best ways to keep students safe when an intruder enters the premises. For example, when there is a fire drill, students and teachers need to know how to exit the building safely.
But in case of a fire, it’s even more important: How should students drop their books and get out? Is it better to go for the nearest door or try and find another way out, so you don’t end up in the “traffic jam” near the entrance? Teachers also need to be trained on other health and safety issues such as first aid, CPR, and many others.
Ensure that your child knows what to do in emergency situations
In order for students to know what they should do in case of any type of emergency at school, proper training must be provided by the teachers.
This training must be unbiased and separate from political agendas. For example, if there’s a fire drill, many schools may tell their students not to use the elevator during these drills because it is safer to take the stairs instead.
However, this recommendation will not always work out due to factors such as physical disabilities or other health issues that cause students to require the assistance of an adult at all times (such as diabetes).
The role of the parents
Parents must have involvement in both child health and school safety if there are any hopes of total success. This includes education on proper procedures for kids during emergencies, participating in efforts to update school plans, and supporting their children’s teachers with additional education about health.
It also helps if parents are good role models when it comes to practicing safe living habits. This includes wearing seat belts while driving, getting enough sleep, and limiting time spent with electronics.
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