School Security Archives

Kids Safety Tips at a Bus Stop
Kids Safety Tips at a Bus Stop

School Security

Kids Safety Tips at a Bus Stop

Parents and caretakers should discuss bus stop conduct and kids safety rules with school-going children. Stressing the importance of these kids safety tips will help reduce the death rates that result from carelessness around and on the bus. Since we care about the well-being of the kids of our nation, we've created some simple kids safety tips focused on the bus stop environment. Kids Safety Rule #1 First and foremost, when waiting at the bus stop, kids should stay a safe distance of about ten steps away from the bus. It’s always important that kids understand the need to remain where the bus driver can see them before crossing the road or boarding the bus. They should cross the street in front of the bus and never behind it. Kids Safety Rule #2 Kids should always walk toward the bus stop and should never run to the bus. Additionally, when [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:22:29-05:00School Security|

Keep your school safe with security systems

School security is not something to be taken lightly. The past few decades have shown that violence in schools has escalated dramatically from the days of school yard bullies. A survey done in 2007 showed that 5.4% of students in grades 9-12 polled had carried a weapon onto school property. Of those same students, 5.9% reported that they avoided going to school because they were afraid. At OSSI, we believe that even one student carrying a weapon on school property is too much. Since 1966, there have been 90 school shootings which have resulted in 231 deaths (13 of the shootings did not result in a death). The United States has more school shootings than any other country, by far. For over a decade, OSSI has installed many school security systems in K-12 schools and Universities. The software and hardware, called Compass 6e, started off as a basic access control system and evolved to include integrated CCTV (closed-circuit television), intrusion and elevator [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:19:43-05:00School Security|

Educating teachers on school safety: Part One

This is part one of a two part series on how teachers can be educated on school safety to protect the future of our country: students. Many of the heroes of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting were teachers. In a time of intense crisis, they were able to face one of the worst possible dangers to their lives and their student’s lives: a shooter while not having any kind of protection. The result could have been much worse. Many of the staff at this facility were trained and educated on how to deal with this type of situation. While the government works out ways to protect schools by discussing gun control and other tactics, schools are still potential targets for crazed shooters. However, there are ways for teachers and school personnel to protect their school from shooters before they become targets; and while a shooting is in progress. Ways to [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:20:39-05:00School Security|

Educating teachers on school safety: Part Two

This is part two of a two part series on how teachers can be educated on school safety to protect the future of our country: students. View part one here. Once you are aware of a shooting in your school, there are some specific actions you can take to protect yourself and your students: Barricade your door: Move all the desks and chairs to the door. A normal shooting lasts seven minutes, so the shooters is not going to waste time trying to push through a door if it is barricaded. Contact authorities: Text or call 911, alerting someone that there is an attack going on at your school once you and your students are secure. Turn off the lights: This prevents the shooter from being able to see clearly through the door or windows. Hide: The best places to hide are to get on the floor against a wall out of line of sight [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:20:53-05:00School Security|

Using CCTV to protect your school

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) security monitoring systems have become increasingly popular as schools, businesses, government building, churches and private homes look to install video surveillance systems due to terrorist attacks and school/workplace shootings. As you can imagine, this technology can become outdated over the years; this is not necessarily a bad thing as companies come out with better technology that protects our loved ones. CCTV can help save lives because information on a suspect can easily be distributed to law enforcement and specific rooms of buildings. With the increase of school shootings, it is especially important for school districts to look into this technology. CCTV that allows access to law enforcement enables the police to know exactly where the suspects are inside the building. This knowledge also allows for medical aid to be distributed to isolated and secure areas of a school building. Saving lives comes down to seconds, not minutes [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:21:06-05:00School Security|

Effectiveness of metal detectors on school safety

There are numerous inquiries about metal detectors and school safety measures all year long, and usually they pick up after incidents of school violence that are heavily covered by the media. We get several questions about metal detectors: Are they effective? Is it a necessary addition to a school? Are they needed to ensure and improve school safety? All of these questions really depend on your school’s situation. Not every school district is the same. There are a lot of schools across the United States that do not use metal detectors and a vast majority of these schools never experience the horrific acts of violence such as Columbine or Sandy Hook. I think we all agree that violence has no place at a school, and if we lived in a perfect world, there wouldn’t be any violence in schools at all. But the sad reality is that there are evil [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:21:46-05:00School Security|

Additional considerations about metal detectors in schools

Our last blog post talked about the potential effectiveness of metal detectors in school. This blog post will relate to some arguments for and against using metal detectors that your school district should consider before implementing a metal detector system in your school. "Do everything we can to protect students" vs. "Not creating a prison-like atmosphere" This is a big component of the argument between getting a metal detector in a school. One side will argue that the school district must do everything they can to ensure student's safety. On the other hand, they don't want to make it seems like the children are going to a prison. School is supposed to be considered a safe zone; if students walk in and see metal detectors, does that really give a sense of security? Implementation Considerations There are many considerations to have when installing a metal detector as a source of [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:21:39-05:00School Security|

Are Uniforms Good For School Security & Safety?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of public schools implementing a school uniform has been on the rise over the last 10 years. In 2000, 12 percent of public schools required a uniform. In 2010, 19 percent of school principals reported that they had adopted a uniform for their students. School uniforms are considered by the NCES to be an "indicator of school crime and safety," and safety is a primary advantage of school uniforms. Uniforms alone cannot solve all of our concerns but they can be a very positive element to safety and discipline. However, a uniform policy comes with its disadvantages and over the years there have been numerous controversies regarding their use. School Safety Advantages Uniforms help to eliminate the socioeconomic tension that affects students who cannot afford the latest trends. Makes it difficult for gang members to easily identify themselves. Prevents [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:21:26-05:00School Security|

10 Security Tips for College Dorm Room Safety

College can be an amazing experience. However, statistics show that college students are also frequent victims of crime. Knowing what to watch out for, and how to protect yourself and your property, is important to college life on campus. Here are 10 tips for dorm room safety to help you through the years. Top 10 College Dorm Safety Tips 1. Close friends and family should know your routines. Provide a copy of your schedule for both class and work. You want those close to you to have a general idea of where you are suppose to be in case something happens. 2. Always lock the door. If you're stepping out for even a couple minutes make sure to lock up. Never give your key or a copy of it to another person, and if you lose your key, have the lock changed as soon as possible. If you're going to [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:21:13-05:00School Security|

4 Warning Signs of a Troubled Teen

Nobody said raising a teenager would always be easy. Some children go through the normal acts of rebellion, which most of us go through, but others cross the line and head down the wrong path. As parents, we need to be both understanding and constantly be on the lookout for warning signs. Below you will find 4 warning signs of a troubled teen. 4 Warning Signs of a Troubled Teen Your teen starts showing signs of being antisocial. If you notice that your teenager is spending an abnormal amount of time secluded in their room and not wanting to participate in family activities, such as eating dinner together, watching movies, attending any family outings, or engaging in conversation, there could be an issue that needs to be addressed. They might also show signs of not wanting to interact with non-family members or limit their circle of friends to others who [...]

dave2017-04-26T10:22:42-05:00School Security|