http://www.outdoorsafetyusa.com/safe/safe-schools/ What makes schools 'safe schools'? With the deadly attacks in schools, the issue of how to make our nation's schools 'safe schools' should stay at the top of the agenda. en-us Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:24:42 EST Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:24:42 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 How to tell whether a school is safe or unsafe With the shooting at Columbine, terrorist attacks and such like, the safety of the country's schools is now a hot topic and a cause of concern for many. Lapse security and having an open door policy has led to some schools being targeted in recent years. Attacks on schools Trying to create safe schools can be a challenge for local and federal governments. The issue of making safe schools has really come to the forefront following deadly attacks and massacres in schools. There have been numerous attacks in schools. Here are three prominent and devastating attacks that had bloody and deadly conclusions: Columbine: 2 troubled students walked into their high school carrying an arson of weapons and killed 15 students and teachers. Dunblane, United Kingdom: A lone gunman went on a shooting spree in a school in 1996, killing 16 children and their teacher. Beslam, Russia: Chechen guerillas took hundreds of children and teachers as hostages in their school in 2004. The 3 day siege came to a bloody end resulting in the death of over 200 children and teachers. These attacks, and others like them have resulted in schools reassessing their security and making drastic measures to make them safer and more secure. Steps taken to make schools safer There have been several steps taken in many countries to make their schools 'safe schools'. Here are some examples of new safety measures: Keeping doors and gates locked for the majority of the school day. Visitors to many schools have to report to reception to receive clearance and must wear a badge when on school grounds. Employing security guards to patrol the school. Safety awareness lessons for students. Many schools use metal detectors to stop students from bringing weapons into school. Be vigilant! It is up to you to ensure that your child's school meets federal safety measures. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make suggestions to your child's school. Take an active role if you feel that would benefit the school and your child. Don't frighten your children but make them aware of the dangers they could face and how they should react in a number of given situations. Most schools now have crossing guards to make your child's journey to school safer. However, watching your child enter the school gates may put your mind at rest. Young children especially should be escorted to school by an adult. If you have a younger child, make sure they know what is expected of them and the dangers of wandering off on their own. In the quest to make our schools 'safe schools', we have to employ a number of measures. The issue of trying to make the nation's schools 'safe schools' should stay at the top of the agenda as we now face todays threats from terrorism and weapons getting into the wrong hands. EB Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:24:42 EST