According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), more than 1 million incidents have occurred at schools in the United States over the past five years. The data indicates that the most common crimes reported at educational locations were assault, larceny or theft and drug offenses.
Conversations about gun and weapon violence continue to raise the question of how to keep students safe at colleges and schools. Learn how to optimize your facility’s protocols for risk mitigation and emergency response.
5 Safety Solutions for Schools and Universities
Follow these strategies to boost your school’s overall safety, situational awareness and efficient response.
1. Develop Emergency Plans and Protocols
Form a collaborative planning team of administrators, teachers and support staff. Gather to assess your facility’s potential risks and strategize how to best use your resources in these critical areas:
- Prevention
- Mitigation
- Protection
- Response
- Recovery
Prioritize potential threats and create action plans for situations involving lockdowns, evacuations or medical emergencies. Implement training and regularly practice drills to reinforce the procedures among staff, teachers and students. Continuously evaluate and update the plans to ensure they remain effective.
2. Rent Wearable Two-Way Radios
Communicate effectively and efficiently with rental walkie-talkies for schools. Modern devices can transmit clear audio in noisy, overcrowded environments where there’s a lack of cell service or there’s network congestion. Your staff can use the advanced technology to coordinate daily operations and improve incident response.
3. Install Blue Light Emergency Towers
Enhance your school or university’s safety with blue light emergency towers in strategic areas such as walkways, parking lots and dark areas. The bright blue lights and visible presence can help deter criminal activity. Some systems feature advanced security measures with cameras and building-wide alerts.
Once installed, users can press a single button to connect directly with campus security or police personnel. Having access to immediate assistance offers peace of mind for students, staff and parents.
4. Educate Students on How to Protect Themselves
Several organizations, such as the Clery Center and Everytown for Gun Safety, provide educational resources to help build a safer future for communities in the USA. Consider partnering with a third-party provider to host a safety lecture or training session at your campus.
5. Increase Your Security With the Latest Technology
Safeguard your students and faculty with innovative security methods. You can build comprehensive protection against threats and enable faster response times with a multilayered approach. Some security strategies for schools include:
- Two-way radio rentals for quick communication between staff and public safety professionals
- Surveillance cameras with video and audio analytics to detect threats and send instant alerts
- Perimeter security with smart sensors and integrated systems to monitor your campus
- Walk-through metal detectors or handheld scanners for identifying prohibited items
- Access control units with student and staff ID badges or biometric scanners
- Emergency alert systems that send mass notifications, like texts and emails
- Centralized platforms that activate lockdowns and evacuations
Let’s Make Learning Environments as Safe as Possible
Communication is the key to enhanced safety and security. Stay connected, provide immediate alerts and mitigate risks with two-way radio rentals and accessories from Communication Rental Services. We’re a trusted provider of rental radios for school events and everyday operations. We offer customized short- or long-term rental plans with nationwide shipping.
Contact our team to learn more, or request a quote today.