Training is key initiative for school terrorism prevention

Schools are “soft targets” for terrorism, but they aren’t doing enough to protect themselves, according to Kenneth S. Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, who was quoted in Newark, NJ’s The Star-Ledger.

New Jersey recently claimed 96 percent of its schools have developed or are developing written emergency guidelines, but Trump says, “While these plans exist in writing, the majority have not been thoroughly or regularly tested. Our assessments typically find a significant lack of ongoing safety training for administrators, teachers and support personnel, such as secretaries, bus drivers and custodians.”

He also says, “Many schools do not practice basic lockdown drills or conduct hypothetical scenario planning, much less do more intensive crisis plan exercises.”

He claims schools made progress in school security post-Columbine and post-9/11 but the progress has stalled and is slipping backward.

“Increasing the safety awareness and preparedness of school officials requires school leaders to provide adequate time for training and emergency planning,” he says.

Fire Extinguishers

A recent EPA examination of schools systems in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska revealed severe problems with their fire extinguishers.
The EPA found:

* A great deal of confusion about inspecting and maintaining fire extinguishers
* Access to fire extinguishers was restricted
* Fire extinguishers weren’t rated or approved for the types of fires that could occur
* Staff hadn’t been trained in the proper use and operation of fire extinguishers

With fires occurring in schools every hour, fire extinguishers should be available for use, properly maintained and the staff trained to operate them.

Staff should understand the classes of fires, which fire extinguisher to use for each one and how to use them by following the PASS method: Pull and twist the pin, Aim the extinguisher’s hose at the bottom of the fire, Squeeze the trigger and Sweep it slowly back and forth, covering the entire area.