How to Increase School and Campus Security The security and safety of students is of utmost importance to any institution. A successful educational environment relies on the effective protection and preservation of the wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors alike. Over the last 14 years, various institutions have come under fire for an array of violent crimes and shootings where a number of school children, university and college students, and staff have been severely and fatally injured. On June 5, 2014, a lone gunman armed with a shotgun and knife opened fire in a building at a small Seattle university while an 18-year old student in Carbondale, Illinois shot another student in an altercation on January 27th of the same year. As these tragedies cause ripples all over the world, schools and universities are having a good look at the manner in which they conduct their safety and security measures. The growing prevalence of violent crimes that occur in academic institutions is reason enough to improve on a number of campus security and safety mechanisms. The School Survey on Crime and Safety was conducted across a number of public and private schools, where it was established that during the 2011–12 school year, the following campus security procedures were enforced in an attempt to clamp down on violent crimes and shootings: ● The implementation of a strict dress code; ● Students were required to wear name or ID badges; ● Book bags were to be clear or banned entirely from school; ● Metal detector checks were conducted on students at regular and random intervals; ● Sniffer dogs were utilized and raids were conducted to check for drugs; ● Random sweeps were directed for contraband; and ● Security cameras were used to monitor the premises. Despite the proficient manner in which these safety and security measures were put into place, they have proven to be permeable and have not been able to effectively monitor students or prevent tragic incidents. The inability to curb these events has a lasting emotional and psychological effect on a multitude of people – from those involved to the families, friends, and global community that feel the undulation. Campus security that can provide personal emergency response systems that ensure immediate and effective responses is best suited when creating and maintaining a stable and protected learning atmosphere. Despite the various procedures that have been implemented across a range of schools, an emergency call system is a great addition. The VisionPro Wireless Emergency Call System® and the MicroVision 400Z® Wireless Emergency Response System are ideal security implementations. They act as wireless emergency call systems which are suited to large school grounds and campuses, assisting in achieving optimum campus security. To ensure 360 degree protection, small push button transmitters are distributed around the campus; they can be worn by staff, attached under desks and mounted on walls or in hallways. In an emergency, the button is pressed and a transmitter sends a wireless signal that identifies the endangered area or individual. This signal is sent to
a combination of pagers, two way radios, cell phones, and email addresses. If the transmission escalation is high enough, the system will send an alarm to your local 911 center. An emergency call system is an effective addition to any existing safety and security measures. Flexible, affordable, and mobile, these personal response systems prioritize a high level of security that trigger immediate response by security personnel. Make campus safety and security a priority by taking action. Investigate your current security measures and build onto your resources by investing in an emergency call system that will assist in creating a stable, healthy, and secure academic environment for staff, students, and visitors alike. Company Bio For nearly 20 years, SystemsTechnologies has been the industry leader in the engineering and manufacturing of wireless call systems. Installed in all 50 states and several foreign countries, our systems guarantee safety and security. 1. School safety and security measures http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=334 2. List of school shootings in the United States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States#2010s 3. 1 dead, 3 injured before student disarms campus gunman http://nypost.com/2014/06/05/multiple-victims-in-university-shooting-in-seattle/