Safety In The Classroom:
It’s no surprise that many parents today have concerns about the safety of their young children in public schools. While the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the trend while children were learning from home, school shootings rose again in 2021.
Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense. Parents can prepare themselves and their children before a threat presents itself.
Here Are Five Back-to-school Safety Tips That Could Save Your Child’s Life.
Not only in the US, but in many other parts of the world, firearms are among the most deadly dangers to both the public and law enforcement. This is why it is vital to consider body armor as a means of personal protection, and the laws surrounding its use based on where you live.
Such risks and an increase in shootings has led to increased interest over time in the ownership and use of body armor. Some body armor can come in various types of bulletproof vests, but there are other types of body armor on the market as well.
1. Provide Protective Wear
While we don’t want to imagine the unthinkable, sometimes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take advantage of modern technology and provide your children with protective wear for school. Bulletproof backpacks and hoodies are available on the market and can keep your child safer if they ever encounter an active shooter situation. However, it’s essential to teach your children that these are just a part of the preparation strategy and not meant to make them.
- Bulletproof Kids Hoodie
- Travel Backpack Level IIIA Bulletproof Armor Plat Package
- Concealable Level IIIA Bulletproof Backpack Armor Insert
Modern technology and innovative protective wear now means that you can keep your children safe, without them feeling embarrassed. Bulletproof clothing and concealable armor plate inserts are discreet and undetectable by the human eye.
2. Encourage Kids To Stay Calm
During World War II, the British created the motivational campaign “Keep Calm and Carry On.” It was intended to boost morale and keep people from panicking but in the most British way possible. In many ways, that’s what you need to do for your children. The hope is that an active shooter situation never affects them, but they need to know how not to panic if it does.
3. Teach Situational Awareness
Along with the ability to remain calm, your children should also have situational awareness. This is the idea that we can recognize behaviors and situations in our environment to avoid or even prevent future problems. Knowing how to be aware of their surroundings at all times also gives children a chance to be assertive and navigate the world with confidence.
4. Review Evacuation Or Shelter Protocol
Before going back to school, review the evacuation or shelter in place protocol for your school. While the school will likely conduct regular drills, it’s also crucial that you reinforce this at home so your kids will know how important it is to follow directions to stay safe. While individual schools will have their plans in place, you can review the Homeland Security recommendations and become more involved as a parent, giving you more information to share with your children.
5. Show How To Evade Threats
For children, this is as simple as their ABCs:
- Avoid
- Barricade
- Counter
While the instinct might be to hide, your children should know that they should try to escape if possible. This is why it’s essential to stay calm. Assess the situation, find the nearest exit, and don’t be afraid to leave belongings behind.
If escaping is not feasible, the next step is to barricade. Place large furniture in front of doors and windows and stay out of sight. Good hiding places are out of the active shooter’s line of sight. Make sure your child knows not to hide in somewhere that traps them or restricts movement. At this stage, you can also teach your children to lower the brightness on their phones and call 911.
If your child comes in contact with the shooter, they’ll need to know how to counter or evade. Show them objects that can be used as weapons, such as textbooks or fire extinguishers. They can throw items at the shooter to get them off guard. The idea is to incapacitate the shooter while avoiding injury.
Returning to school should be a time of enjoyment for your children. Bogging them down with too much preparation can be as detrimental as not enough. However, it’s crucial to balance your child’s education and comfort with their safety. Using these back-to-school tips to help your child stay safe and maintain your peace of mind will be critical to a successful year both at home and at school. Showing your children how to stay calm, understand situational awareness, plan for evacuation or shelter, and remain safe during an active shooter situation are all critical parts of a safety plan. By providing added security with protective equipment, you’ll feel more confident when sending your kids back to school.
