School security remains at the forefront of learning to ensure that young dreams are fulfilled confidently. Over a million crimes happened in educational facilities between 2018 and 2022, including mass shootings, theft, and violence. This statistic translates into endless worry by the parents, teachers, and every other concerned party.
School security remains undebatable since these premises are mandatory for human life. Follow these various tips for protecting students in schools.
1. School Security Technology
School security solutions involve various techniques to discover weapons in concealed areas. The technology employs metal detectors with electromagnetic fields to find metallic weapons such as knives or guns. The sensors respond by rigging an alarm once a weapon has been identified.
Another method of weapon detection technology is X-ray scanning, which scans through individual bodies, packages, and bags, revealing their hidden contents. Chemical detection technology can help to identify chemical-based weapons like explosives. When schools incorporate these weapon detection techniques in their security plan, the students will be protected from armed criminals.
2. Strong School Perimeter Walls
Another effective way of protecting students is by ensuring the entire school premises are secured with a strong perimeter wall. Even better, it’s essential to reinforce these walls with extra security measures such as surveillance cameras and electric extensions for further protection. Perimeter walls prevent unauthorized entry into the school premises, keeping students safe.
3. Managing Visitor Access
Many times, criminals at schools pose as visitors before committing the unimaginable. So, the school administration needs to develop a reasonable and practical visitor access control system to protect the students. It can do so by ensuring everyone enters the school premises from the main gate and has a reasonable connection with the school, i.e., a visiting parent.
Even better, every visitor should provide their ID or an approved appointment notice regarding their visit. Lastly, visitors shouldn’t be allowed access to critical school areas like classrooms without escort.
4. Promoting Mental Stability
6 out of 10 school crimes have been associated with mental instabilities such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorders. Therefore, the school administration should seek to promote mental stability among students and staff to prevent such misfortunes.
They can incorporate mental health education into the learning system to educate students about emotions and stress management. Offering counselling services and motivating peer support groups would also help to promote mental stability.
5. Encouraging Insecurity Reporting
Those petty security issues can grow into more significant crimes because they weren’t reported in infancy. To protect the students at schools, the administration should encourage insecurity reporting, regardless of how minor a concern appears.
The anonymous reporting system through incognito apps or suggestion boxes is the best as it hides the reporter’s identification, keeping them safe from threats.
6. Installation of High-Quality Locks, Doors, and Windows
The school administration can protect the students by ensuring they construct the premises with high-quality and potent locks, doors, and windows. While poor-quality building essentials give quick access to school premises, their counterparts keep the students safe in case of a threat. Even better, these areas should be well-maintained to ensure uninterrupted protection.
7. Establish Effective Emergency Plans
Every school should have an adequate emergency plan to protect the students in case of a security issue. While insecurity may occur accidentally, lacking a proper plan worsens the impact.
Therefore, the administration should develop a well-detailed plan to tackle any potential incident, such as a list of emergency contacts, an emergency response team, and medical supplies.
Additionally, they can incorporate transportation plans, psychological support, an evacuation procedure, a communication plan, and documentation. Furthermore, practicing regular drills and updating the emergency plan after an exhaustive review is essential.
8. Installing CCTVs and Burglar Alarms
The school administration can ensure the protection of the students by installing enough high-quality CCTV surveillance cameras and burglar alarms. These essentials offer a quick analysis of a security issue at the premises, helping to mitigate such risks.
An environment filled with CCTV cameras and intruder alarms is much safer for students and staff, and they’ll learn without worries. Ensuring the cameras and alarms are regularly reviewed and updated for continued protection is essential.
9. Hiring a Qualified Security Team and Training the Staff
Hiring a qualified security team is another viable solution to protecting school students. Alongside various security technologies, an in-person security team ensures proper implementation of various security measures. They need the right qualifications for the job, accompanied by occasional training.
Training the students and staff on various security procedures at school is also essential. This move prevents several insecurity issues and ensures that proper steps are taken in case of an emergency. Schools will likely be safer and more comfortable when every student and staff is aware of their responsibility regarding security.
