student-safety-training

JOY RIDE: Riding the Bus Without Worries

2007-06-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

According to the National Coalition for School Bus Safety (NCSBS), there were more than 20 student deaths and 9,000 injuries due to school buses last year. Most of these tragedies were not caused by collisions or crashes, but just by entering and exiting the bus. It is important that students who ride school buses remember these safety guidelines provided by NCSBS:

• Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
• Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
• When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.
• Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
• Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's okay to approach.
• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!

JOY RIDE: Riding the Bus Without Worries

2007-06-08T10:32:00.000-04:00

Managing asthma

2006-09-14T10:48:00.000-04:00

Asthma affects over five million school-aged children in the United States – about one out of every 11 students. This chronic lung disease often causes unnecessary restriction of activities and is a leading cause of school absenteeism. Asthma is controllable and with proper treatment and support children with asthma can develop healthy lifestyles and lead fully active school lives.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program believes that schools should adopt policies for the management of asthma that ensure student safety, encourage the active participation of students in the self-management of their condition and allow for the most consistent, active participation in all school activities.

Policies should address the following essential activities:
· A smoke-free environment for all school activities.
· A written medication policy that allows safe, reliable and immediate access to medications. Policies are encouraged that allow students to carry and self-administer quick-relief medication whenever possible.
· A school-wide emergency plan for handling asthma episodes.
· Professional development for all school personnel on school medication policies and emergency procedures
· School health services should include:
· Identifying, assessing and monitoring of students with asthma
· Obtaining or constructing written asthma action plan for each student with asthma, updated at least annually
· Ensuring emergency care including a quick-relief inhaler and spacer/holding chamber
· Providing nurse supervision to document and report on the administration of medication to the parent/guardian and/or health care clinician

Back to school bus safety

2006-09-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

With students across the country returning to school, the American Red Cross recently issued an appeal for school bus safety. Twenty-four million students ride the bus to school each day and it’s much safer than other forms of transportation, but 11 school-age pedestrians are killed by school transportation vehicles each year, necessitating the following safety precautions that schools should share with their students:

Line up facing the bus, not along side it.
Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus.
Carry all loose belongings in a bag or backpack.
Never reach under the school bus to get anything that has rolled beneath it. The bus driver may be sitting too high up to see you.
After getting off the bus, move immediately onto the sidewalk and out of traffic. If there is no sidewalk, try to stay as far to the side of the road as possible.
Wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing the street. Walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so the driver can see you.
Never cross the street or play behind the school bus.

Violence prevention programs

2006-09-07T14:52:00.000-04:00

Children exhibiting or at risk for exhibiting aggressive behavior benefit from attending violence prevention classes at school, according to a new review of published studies, Reuters reported.

The most useful school-based violence prevention programs are those that teach children how to get along better with people -- teaching them skills such as listening, thinking about the feelings of others, working together, and learning how to be assertive without being aggressive. Interventions designed to improve relationship or social skills are more effective than those designed to teach skills of "non-response to provocative situations."
The studies found that the programs produce improvements in behavior in both older and younger children and in both boys-only and mixed-sex groups. The programs reduce aggressive behavior and lead to a drop in disciplinary action.

The programs are important because “early aggressive behavior is a risk factor for later violence and criminal behavior," the Cochrane Library reports.

Cafeteria safety

2006-09-05T09:20:00.000-04:00

Food-borne illnesses in schools made up just 3 percent of reported outbreaks nationwide in the 1990s, according to the latest analysis available from the U.S. General Accounting Office, the National School Boards Association reports. That translates to about 195 incidents in a decade, which is a small number, but if you’re an administrator in a district hit with an illness, the problem can be catastrophic.

Cafeteria employees must be trained to handle food properly to prevent contamination. The training starts with personal hygiene: employees must keep hands clean, wash them frequently and wear gloves to handle food. The gloves must be changed after handling waste. Employees should also keep their clothes clean and keep hair covered before entering the food area.

Employees should follow the Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures for handling food, equipment, utensils, gloves and clothing.

Only by following these important procedures can cafeteria workers keep the food they serve to children clean and healthy.

Football helmets not properly fitted

2006-09-01T12:49:00.000-04:00

As the high school football season begins, schools should pay attention to a recent article in The New York Times that said football helmets aren’t protecting students because they aren’t properly fitted.

Dr. Eugene Hong of Drexel College led a study that found the 10-step fitting process commonly used in professional and college football was often not followed in high schools, due to lack of training of coaches and equipment managers.

The two steps most commonly mishandled were making sure the mask was two inches away from the nose and keeping the chin straps an equal distance apart.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, 300,000 sports-and-recreation related concussions are diagnosed nationwide each year and Dr. Hong believes thousands of young football players will suffer from them this year if their helmets aren’t properly fitted.

Dr. Hong believes helmets shouldn’t just be fitted at the beginning of the season but periodically, because helmet fit changes due to collisions, wear and tear and the growth of the player.

Sports safety

2006-08-28T09:15:00.000-04:00

With the start of fall sports now in full swing and children returning to school, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has issued timely guidelines to ensure sports safety.

NATA recommends the following tips for school staff and athletes:
Pre-participation exam – children participating in sports should receive a general health exam prior to activity.

Emergency plan – develop a written emergency plan in consultation with local emergency medical service.

Appropriate safety gear – make sure masks, gloves, pads and other gear fit properly and inspect gear regularly to assure it’s in good condition.

Preconditioning and training – coaches and trainers should ensure children are physically and mentally conditioned to participate in team sports.

Facility safety inspection – remove debris, water, rocks and other hazards from the field and consider weather conditions.

First aid – keep a kit on site for medical emergencies

For more information on youth sports and sports safety, please visit http://www.nata.org/youthsports/index.htm.

Students with dyslexia

2006-08-24T15:23:00.000-04:00

Children with dyslexia have a learning disability that makes it harder to read, write and spell. But with help from teachers and staff that is required by law they can overcome their problems and become productive students.

School staff should be aware of the common symptoms of dyslexia and test students who exhibit them, because testing is the only way diagnose it.

Schools should apply a team approach to teaching dyslexic students, involving parents, special education teachers, speech pathologists, psychologists and other caregivers.

Academic modifications may be necessary, such as giving dyslexic students additional time to complete a test or providing them with books on tape.

Dyslexic students can also benefit from having an organized classroom, so keep the noise levels and clutter down, have homework assignments and lesson plans written clearly on the board.

Be aware of the legal rights of your students. The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act requires schools to provide public education to students with disabilities, including dyslexia.

Preventing abuse of ADHD drugs

2006-08-21T09:51:00.000-04:00

Methylphenidate, a central nervous stimulant prescribed for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is frequently abused, with students stealing supplies that are kept at schools or taking them from friends who have prescriptions.

The problem is frequently caused by school systems that don’t have a nurse dispensing the medication, keep supplies in unlocked desks and allow teen students to carry and administer their own medications.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Diversion Control Program offers the following precautions school systems can take to ensure the safe handling of ADHD medications:

* prohibit students from carrying ADHD medication to school
* make sure ADHD medication is delivered to schools in properly labeled containers that identify the name of the med, the proper dosage and frequency of administration
* one person (preferably a school nurse) should maintain primary control of med supply
* maintain a medication inventory log to track the meds received and dispensed
* drug supply should be secured in a locked room or cabinet
* unused meds should be destroyed by the school nurse

Industrial shop fire safety

2006-08-17T11:55:00.000-04:00

Many school fires occur in industrial shop areas, where flammable liquids and overloaded electrical outlets with frayed cords can ignite and cause burns or shocks. Schools should avoid overloading outlets and take the following safety measures, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety:

* secure compressed gas cylinders in an upright position; avoid dripping, rolling or knocking them together
* never weld in areas where combustible material is stored
* keep work area clean and check daily for fire hazards
* provide suitable waste cans for disposal of oil soaked and paint rags
* use safety cans for storing and dispensing small amounts of flammable liquids
* ensure good ventilation for painting operations and a regular routine for cleaning up overspray residues
* supply suitable and easily accessible fire extinguishers

School bus drivers being trained to spot terrorists

2006-08-14T10:14:00.000-04:00

School bus driver training has been expanded with School Bus Watch, a program funded by the Homeland Security Department that trains drivers to watch for terrorists.

The training program raises driver awareness about terrorism, shows them how terrorists operate and teaches them how to report unusual activity. They are given a unique ID number and a toll-free number to call to report suspicious activity.

Training is provided free.

The program, which is being run by the American Trucking Associations and three school bus trade associations, began with “train the trainer” sessions at selected regional locations. Once trainers become qualified to teach the School Bus Watch program, they can train school system drivers. The goal is to train the nation’s 600,000 school bus drivers.

“School bus drivers already play an important role in the safety and security of their communities,” said Dale Kraph, a National School Transportation Association representative. “School Bus Watch gives them some additional tools to help them keep their communities, their vehicles and our children safe.”

Summer playground safety tips

2006-08-11T09:51:00.000-04:00

The National Program for Playground Safety offers the following summer playground safety tips:

* Survey the play area for potential hazards – unwanted debris, broken glass, metal
* Check the equipment – children should not be allowed to play on broken equipment
* Check the children themselves – strings, bike helmets and jump ropes are strangulation hazards
* Make sure equipment isn’t too hot to play on – check the heat on the surfaces because hot metal and plastics can cause severe burns

Enjoy your summer, but don’t take a break from safety!

Protecting student athletes from bloodborne pathogens

2006-08-09T09:38:00.000-04:00

The threat of exposure to bloodborne pathogens at schools for students and staff is high, especially for student athletes who can be injured during games.

The Indiana State Department of Health advises schools to have a person designated at each athletic event to assist injured students. They should be equipped with disposable gloves to prevent exposure to blood when treating bleeding students.

It also offers these tips for handling student injuries:

* bleeding students should be covered with bandages or wraps to prevent leakage of blood
* the injured student should perform his own wound care when possible
* students should be instructed not to handle other people’s blood
* lacerations with substantial bleeding should be treated promptly
* injured students should be allowed to return to the activity only after the wound has been securely covered
* if clothing or equipment is wet with blood, it should be changed
* skin contaminated with blood should be washed with soap and water
* disposable toweling should be used to clean all environmental surfaces when blood is present
* after each activity, any equipment or uniform soiled with blood should be laundered

Cyberbullying

2006-08-03T09:33:00.000-04:00

TeensHealth Safe Surfing Tips for Teens lauds the Internet as a great source of information, but warns teens to “protect yourself while you surf.”

It offers the following advice on cyberbullying:

“It's not just strangers who can make you feel uncomfortable online. Cyberbullying is a word that refers to cruel or bullying messages sent to you online. These might be from former friends or other people you know. They can be irritating and, in some cases, even frightening.

If you get these bullying messages online, it's often better to ignore them rather than answer them. Cyberbullies, just like other bullies, may be angry or disturbed people - and may be looking for attention or a reaction.
Fortunately, most people never experience cyberbullying. But if you're getting cyberbullied and ignoring it doesn't make it go away, getting help from a parent, school counselor, or another trusted adult may be a good idea. That's especially true if the cyberbullying contains threats.”

School bus routing software tracks sex offenders

2006-07-31T13:20:00.000-04:00

In response to the desire of several states to ferret out sexual predators from school bus stop areas, a school bus software company has added a feature to its routing and scheduling program that allows users to determine where sex offenders are located and plan bus stops accordingly.

The software displays a map noting the locations of sex offenders relative to where the district’s bus stops are. If predators live near the stops, a notification is posted and schools can change the stops or take further action.

School systems must bring in a list of sexual predators and where they reside through an import file, which they can obtain from local authorities or Web sites such as www.familywatchdog.us.

The distance an offender may be to a school bus stop is established by local districts. Saratoga County, New York recently passed a law requiring offenders to be at least 1,000 feet from where students congregate.

Approximately 900 school districts use the company’s programs for mapping bus routes. The sex offender-tracking software will automatically be available to these districts.

Paint safety

2006-07-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

Art supplies are among the commonly used products in schools that can pose chemical hazards. School staff must be careful handling the products to avoid exposing children to danger.

Paint can become contaminated with mold or bacteria and often contain an organic binder that is subject to degradation if not stored properly or used within a reasonable amount of time.

Dick Blick Art Materials offers the following tips on storing paint products:

store paint in its original container in a cool, dry place
date and rotate inventory, always using the oldest stock first
thoroughly shake the product before using
remove only enough paint for immediate use. Don’t return unused portions to the original container
never dilute the product, because the addition of water dilutes the preservative’s strength as well as the paint
do not place brushes, hands or other objects in the container
make sure the cap is sealed tightly before storing after each use

All paints are subject to eventual spoilage, but proper storage and usage will reduce potential sources of contamination, extend the life of your paint and keep children safe.

HealthySEAT

2006-07-24T09:24:00.000-04:00

There are approximately 120,000 schools in the U.S. and many contain environmental hazards that may pose risks to children and staff. The EPA has developed a software tool to help school districts evaluate and manage their facilities for environmental, safety and health issues.

HealthySEAT can be used to conduct self-assessments of schools and on environmental conditions. The software will help schools check for environmental hazards, including chemical releases, pesticide exposures, flaking lead paint, mold, indoor air quality problems and damaged asbestos-containing building materials.

The software includes an inspection checklist and a guidebook on the hazards and includes features that allow staff to generate letters and track the status of facility conditions and corrective actions and prepare reports for district use.

HealthySEAT will help school districts collect the data necessary to make a compelling case for needed renovations and repairs and demonstrate to the community that your school is committed to the health and safety of children and staff.

Go to http://www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat for more information and to download the software.

Air pollution in schools

2006-07-20T10:33:00.000-04:00

Can the air in schools damage children’s lungs? The possibility exists, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine report that found carbon particles similar to those in ambient air in the airways of children, and increased levels of carbon correlate with decreased lung function in children, whose lungs develop steadily during childhood. While overall air quality has improved in urban environments due to vehicle emission controls and cleaner burning fuels, children can be exposed to dangerous levels of air contamination in schools built near busy roadways and other sources of pollution.

The report concludes that research into the specific components of air pollution may enable policymakers to institute more specific control strategies. In the meantime, school officials should take steps to keep their children away from polluted air.

The Environmental Protection Agency has prepared an Indoor Air Quality Tool for Schools that allows school staff to improve air quality in schools at little or no cost, using practical applications, such as a fact sheet on pollution sources and forms to aid staff in responding to incidences and notifying students and parents. For more information on this tool kit, call (202) 512-1800.

Have you banned contact games from your playground?

2006-07-17T13:31:00.000-04:00

USA Today reports that schools across the country are banning traditional childhood games from playgrounds because they consider them dangerous.
Elementary schools in Cheyenne, WY and Spokane, WA have banned tag, while a Charleston, SC school banned soccer and touch football. Similar bans have been enacted at schools in Wichita, KS, San Jose, CA and Beaverton, OR.

“It’s happening more because educators worry about kids running into each other and getting hurt,” said Donna Thompson of the National Program for Playground Safety.

The Charleston ban was instituted because children suffered broken arms and dislocated fingers playing soccer and football. But not all of the bans have resulted from serious injuries, and critics think the restrictions are harmful. “You’re taking away the physical development of children,” said Joe Frost, emeritus professor of early childhood education at the University of Texas-Austin. “Having time for play is essential for children to keep their weight under control.”

How schools can handle terrorist threats

2006-07-13T09:38:00.000-04:00

Schools should develop heightened security procedures in the event of terrorist threats, ranging from the potential use of car/truck bombs to biological attacks.

Schoolsecurity.org says schools should take these measures:

* Train teachers and support staff and evaluate, refine and test school security plans
* Encourage staff to maintain a heightened awareness for suspicious activity and report it, including suspicious vehicles, persons and packages on school grounds
* Provide special attention to perimeter security, including clearly defined perimeters with fences and gates and designated parking areas for visitors. Monitor parking lots and establish routine inspections of buildings
* Review staffing and supervision plans, with adult supervision of all areas
* Maintain a proactive effort of visitor access and control
* Verify the identity of service personnel and vendors visiting the school
* Evaluate security measures at school transportation facilities
* Secure access to utilities, boiler rooms and other maintenance facilities
* Evaluate food and beverage service stock, storage and protection procedures
* Assess school health and medical preparedness
* Conduct a status check of emergency communications mechanisms, such as two way radio units and cell phones
* Review procedures for mobilizing mental health services for students and staff in the event of a crisis

Speech disorders

2006-07-11T15:24:00.000-04:00

Lisps, stuttering and other speech disorders make it difficult for students to communicate, but they can succeed in school with the proper help. Speech-language pathologists can determine the speech problem a child has and help her speak more clearly. School staff can handle student speech disorders by following these guidelines:

* learn about the student – encourage her to participate in the activities she likes.
* recognize the need for early evaluation of speech disorders – early detection and treatment is the key to helping the student learn to speak correctly.
* be supportive – build a relationship in which the child is comfortable sharing her feelings with you.
* encourage an inclusive attitude – encourage the student and the group to focus on the ways they are alike and tolerate the differences
* be sensitive to a student’s concerns about reading out loud – don’t call on the child unless she volunteers
* educate your students about speech disorders – children who are informed about speech disorders will be more tolerant of them and act responsibly.

Bullying bill leaves vulnerable students unprotected, critics say

2006-07-06T08:23:00.000-04:00

Human rights protesters argue a proposed school anti-bullying bill in Florida, HB535, is “vague,” leaving most vulnerable students, such as gays and minorities, unprotected, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The bill, authored by Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff, fails to specifically ban bullying based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical ability or appearance. Stratton Pollitzer, director of Equality Florida South Florida, contends that if the bill becomes law, it will undo decades of work to protect vulnerable students by repealing all the strongest anti-harassment policies implemented by local schools districts, such as Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade. “It would seem seductively simple to say ‘all students,’ but it doesn't get the job done,” says Mr. Pollitzer. “There are certain forms of harassment that are considered acceptable.”

Rep. Bogdanoff says she would not use selective language to define who should be protected because she does not want to uphold the safety of one child over another. “I want to protect all children,” she says. She insists that opponents of the bill are misinformed and the only change to the bill’s language she might consider is to clarify that it does not preclude school districts from creating a separate discrimination policy.

FERPA case study

2006-06-30T15:46:00.000-04:00

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects student records and confidential documents from exposure. Dr. Carolyn Stone of the University of North Florida presented a series of case studies of FERPA related cases that pose interesting questions about the law. Here’s a good one: Ms. Sheffield disappeared with her son Richard to escape an abusive husband. Ms. Sheffield enrolled Richard in your school without a word about their problems. You published the honor roll of your fifth graders in the newspaper and Richard’s name was among them. A relative of Mr. Sheffield saw Richard’s name in the paper and contacted Mr. Sheffield. Ms. Sheffield is furious as she feels she must uproot her family and seek a new town in order to hide. She maintains that the school acted improperly by publishing her child’s name without her permission. Did the school act legally when they published Richard’s name in the newspaper?

For more information, please visit http://www.gnsca.org/Stone/cases.doc.

Follow the regulations to administer medications

2006-06-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

On a typical school day, 5.6 percent of children receive medication in school in accordance with a variety of state and local regulations. Sixty-four percent of states and 94 percent of school districts have requirements regarding school administration of medication.

Many state and local policies permit delegation of medication administration to trained but unlicensed assistive personnel, from teachers to secretaries. But certain duties cannot be delegated, such as secured storage of controlled substances.

Self-administration policies vary state to state and within school districts. Many require student assessment for age and maturity; others require authorization from prescribers and parents; almost all include signed releases of liability.

It is essential to follow the policy in your state and locality to administer the proper medication for children and avoid liability for mismanagement.

To see the state rules for medication administration in schools, go to http://www.healthinschools.org/sh/mgmtpolicies.asp#AL.

Food allergies

2006-06-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

Food allergies can cause severe ailments, including rashes, sneezing, stomach aches and breathing problems. They can be caused by pizza, cheese, ice cream, peanuts and bread – typical foods served at schools.

Teachers and other school staff can help prevent allergic students from experiencing these reactions by practicing the following steps, according to Ellen Weiner, author of Taking Food Allergies to School:* Keep lists of every child’s allergic foods in the classroom and nurse’s office
* Beware of hidden ingredients in foods, for instance a child allergic to sugar cannot have items with corn syrup, fructose or honey
* Arrange for alternate snacks for children when dangerous foods are served
* Allow unrestricted bathroom breaks, in case diarrhea or stomach cramps result
* Educate students about food allergy problems so they look out for their allergic peers

Training is key initiative for school terrorism prevention

2006-06-08T17:09:00.000-04:00

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

2006-06-05T09:20:00.000-04:00

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.

Playground dangers

2006-06-01T09:21:00.000-04:00

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, emergency departments in the U.S. treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground injuries each year.

In a recent 10 year period, 147 children died from playground injuries. About 45 percent of the injuries are severe – fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations and amputations.

Girls sustain injuries slightly more than boys (55% to 45%) and children 5 to 9 are at the highest risk.

More injuries occur on climbers than other playground equipment, with swings responsible for many other injuries.

What can be done to prevent the injuries? Proper selection, placement and maintenance of playground equipment, along with effective supervision of children can help reduce accidents or reduce their severity.

Hazard communications for schools

2006-05-30T09:53:00.000-04:00

Hazardous chemicals, which produce physical and health hazards, are ever present in schools, from paint solvents in art to chemicals in science and cleaning supplies used by custodians.

Every school must develop and implement a written hazard communication program, which the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of the New Jersey Department of Education says should be able to answer these questions:

* Is a list of hazardous chemicals present in your school?* Are the methods used to inform individuals of chemical hazards included in your program?
* Are the methods used to provide access to material safety data sheets included in your program?
* Are the methods use to communicate the labeling system included in your program?
* Are all containers of hazardous chemicals in your school labeled, tagged or marked?
* Is removal or defacing the labels prohibited?* If a hazardous chemical has no material safety data sheet, are attempts made to obtain one from the manufacturer?* Is effective training on hazardous chemicals provided to your staff?

Disaster preparedness

2006-05-26T09:33:00.000-04:00

Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew, the Northridge Earthquake and the Red River flooding of 1997 damaged many schools, making buildings uninhabitable and disrupting the lives of students.

School officials must make a special effort to plan for disasters, mitigate the risks and protect the safety of students and educators.
Every school’s disaster plan should have four main areas of focus, according to Campussafetymagazine.com:* prevention and mitigation: puts in place measures to prevent accidents, fires and criminal acts and situations that cannot be prevented, such as hurricanes
* preparedness: guides the action of staff during a crisis or disaster; including efforts such as stockpiling disaster supplies, training employees and coordinating a drill program for local hazards
* response: formal written plan that logs critical functions from the emergency operations plan and documents who carried out crucial steps during the event
* recovery: the first component outlines death notification, the crisis recovery method that will be used and the organization’s involvement in memorials; the second component is the business continuity plan, which spells out how the operations of the institution will be resumed.

Bus driver handles medical emergency

2006-05-22T09:27:00.000-04:00

A school bus driver was hailed for helping save the life of a student with a blocked airway earlier this month, according to Schoolbusfleet.com.

Mary Miller, director of transportation at Marion, NY Central School District, said that while a district bus was moving along its morning route, a student alerted driver Jim Couperus that another student was struggling to breathe.

Couperus pulled over the bus and radioed the transportation department to request emergency medical help.

Miller’s staff was able to immediately alert Wayne County Advanced Life Support, which has a satellite office in the district’s transportation building. A responder was dispatched to the scene and found that the eighth grader’s airway was completely blocked.

Emergency care was administered, and the student was transported to a local hospital. It was determined that she had had a severe allergic reaction, but she fully recovered.

Miller praised Couperus for his role in saving the student’s life. She said that Couperus’ decisive actions showed that he had been trained well. “His reaction was just applaudable,” she said of Couperus, who has served as a driver at the district for about four years. “He stayed calm and did everything that would be expected of him.”

Breaking up fights

2006-05-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

When arguments between students escalate and erupt into fights, school staff must know how to intervene to stop them and deal with the aggressive students. Nea.org offers the following guidelines:

* Never ignore aggression, because it can quickly grow into violent behavior.
* Go toward the scene of violence, because the presence of an adult can stop the activity.
* Quickly review the situation to determine what has happened, who is there and what will happen.
* Look to see if there are any weapons present.
* In a strong voice, tell students to stop.
* Tell onlookers to leave the area.
* Never get between students who are fighting.
* After the incident, document what happened.
* Support the victims in any way you can and get them the help they need.

Heightened security

2006-05-16T09:08:00.000-04:00

In the aftermath of 9/11 and other terrorist attacks, school systems are developing new forms of school security and crisis preparedness to guard against future terrorist acts. National School Safety and Security Services, an Ohio-based consulting firm specializing in school security, offers these security recommendations, according to Eschoolnews.org:

* Review school crisis guidelines and make sure they include lockdown and evacuation procedures, alternative evacuation sites and family reunification procedures.
* Maintain a balanced, common-sense approach to school safety and security. School and safety officials should maintain a heightened awareness for potential spin-off incidents, including bomb threats.
* Review security issues relating to all school staff, including support personnel such as secretaries, custodians and bus drivers.
* Communicate hot lines numbers that students, parents and members of the community can use to report safety and related concerns.
* Use school district call-in lines and web sites to provide ongoing information to the school community.

Safer schools

2006-05-12T09:17:00.000-04:00

Massive gun attacks at American high schools have instilled fear within us all, but schools are actually safer today, according to an EducationNews.org report in March.

The report states that:
* In the most recently reported federal data, there were 17 recent homicides and five suicides at schools, less than 1 per million students enrolled
* The number of school-associated violent deaths has decreased by 40 percent in a decade, from 43 to 26 last year, in a population of 52 million students
* The violent crime victimization rate at schools declined from 48 to 28 per 1,000 students over the past decade
* Reports of physical fights fell 14 percent and reports of students injured in fights dropped 20 percent in the past decade
The decreasing rates stem from the efforts educators have made to reduce violence by expelling violent students through “zero tolerance” policies and encouraging students to report violent activities, which helps schools identify threats and reduce violence.

Soda banned at public schools

2006-05-08T09:26:00.000-04:00

The nation’s largest soft drink distributors have agreed to stop selling sweetened sodas in public schools, according to an Associated Press report released yesterday.

The agreement with Cadbury Schweppes PLC, Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and the American Beverage Association was arranged by former president Bill Clinton’s personal foundation and the American Heart Association.

The agreement, which will allow the companies to sell other beverages in public schools, follows a wave of regulations by school districts and state legislatures to cut back on student consumption of soda amid reports of rising childhood obesity rates.

Nearly 35 million students nationwide will be affected by the deal, according to The Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Students have begun purchasing other drinks in recent years, but sweetened soda remains the most popular, accounting for 45 percent of beverages sold in schools in 2005.

How quickly the change takes effect depends on individual school districts’ willingness to alter existing contracts. The companies say they will implement the changes at 75 percent of the nation’s public schools by the 2008-2009 school year, and all schools a year later.

Dealing with fires

2006-05-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

School fires can be caused by arson, the improper handling and storage of flammable liquids, overloaded electrical outlets or an accumulation of rubbish. In any fire, school staff must follow the school’s fire safety plan and perform the following tasks:

* Evacuate students in immediate danger
* Sound the alarm
* Fight the fire with proper equipment while remaining free from danger
* Do not the fight the fire if it is spreading rapidly or blocking exit
* Close room doors and hallway doors to prevent air movement and the spread of smoke
* Do not panic. Advise students that the fire plan is in operation and remain calm. Staff confidence and judgment is extremely important and will prevent panic

Preparing for the pandemic

2006-04-27T09:03:00.000-04:00

Federal health and education officials are advising local school leaders to begin preparing now for the possibility of an outbreak of the bird flu pandemic, according to an eSchoolNews report this week.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and Health and Human Services Secretary said schools must be aware that they might have to close their buildings, or that schools might have to be used as makeshift hospitals, quarantine sites or vaccination centers.

Another possibility is that schools would have to develop ways to teach students who have been sent home. In Massachusetts, school administrators are considering using an automated phone bank to announce homework assignments and update parents. Another plan would be to use the Internet for communication between teachers and students.

The government has created checklists on preparation and response steps, specialized for preschools, grade schools, high schools and colleges. The dominant theme is the need for coordination among local, state and federal officials.

Some of the advice is common sense, like urging students to wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Other steps would take schools considerable time to figure out, such as legal and communication issues.

Cyberbullying

2006-04-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

Cyberbullying, sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices, is emerging as a challenging issue for educators as young people embrace the Internet.

There are several ways young people commit cyberbullying. They send e-mails or instant messages containing insults or threats directly to another person. Or they send hateful comments about a person through e-mail, IMs or postings on Web sites or diaries. They also send threatening text messages on their cell phones.

Schools are struggling to address the issue of cyberbullying, because it’s difficult to detect and monitor. But schools can take the following steps to control cyberbullying and protect the victims:

* Integrate curriculum-based anti-bullying programs into the classroom
* Educate teachers, students and parents about the seriousness of cyberbullying
* Change the school or board’s bullying policy to include harassment perpetrated by mobile and Internet technology
* Update the school’s computer policy to specifically prohibit using the Internet for bullying

NEA launches anti-bullying campaign

2006-04-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

The National Educational Association has launched a National Bullying Awareness Campaign to reduce and eventually eradicate bullying in America’s schools.

“Convincing research indicates that this goal can best be achieved by fostering the active involvement of teachers, administrators, school support personnel, parents and community,” the NEA says.

The NEA encourages schools to initiate campaigns to prevent bullying that includes these elements:

* A code of conduct, effectively communicated to students
* Any child who is bullied or sees an act of bullying should be urged to report the incident to the designated school personnel
* Coaching on what to do when being bullied must be available to students
* Social skills instruction should be incorporated into class rooms
* Students who exhibit bullying behavior need to be shown other ways to use their energy

Transporting Pre-Schoolers

2006-04-10T09:03:00.000-04:00

Special care must be taken by school bus drivers and monitors in transporting pre-schoolers, with a special emphasis on the safety restraint systems that are used to secure them in their seats. The type of restraint system to use is based on a child’s age and weight:

* Children under 20 lbs. and/or less than one year old must be in rear-facing safety seats. The harness straps should be at or below shoulder level. * Children weighing more than 20 lbs. and over one year old must be secured in convertible or forward-facing safety seats.
* Children weighing up to 40 lbs. must be placed in appropriate safety or booster seats, equipped with three or five-point harnesses.
* Children weighing from 40 to 50 lbs. should be secured using safety vests, which secure children at the shoulders and hips.

Sexual harassment in school

2006-04-07T08:34:00.000-04:00

Sexual harassment isn’t just a corporate problem, it occurs in schools, when teachers harass students in return for high grades or students harass peers with lewd remarks and inappropriate touching.

Schools are legally and financially liable for failing to take action against sexual harassment in accordance with Title IX. Understanding and identifying sexual harassment is the first step in avoiding liability for your school. The next step is taking appropriate action by establishing clear policies for filing complaints and training staff on how they should respond to harassment. Schools should also provide awareness training for students so they understand what sexual harassment is and how to respond to it.

Any instances of sexual harassment should be reported immediately and investigated thoroughly with law enforcement officials notified if criminal activity has occurred. When sexual harassment has been judged to have occurred, schools should take disciplinary action, punish the harassers and provide counseling for the victim.

Bullying

2006-04-03T10:02:00.000-04:00

Thirty percent of U.S. students in grades six through ten are involved in moderate or frequent bullying — as bullies, as victims, or as both — according to the results of the first national survey on this subject by the National Institutes of Health.

Bullying, the deliberate and repeated affliction of abuse that can take many forms, including physical, verbal and even cyber, is a severe school violence problem that impacts every grade level.

Eliminating bullying can be achieved training staff to identify signs of victimization, so they can determine who is involved in bullying; intervene to stop bullying and consult privately with the parties involved; and, notify parents and gain their input to resolve the situations.

By training staff and involving parents, schools can stop bullying, which prevents bullies from becoming criminals and protects victims, who suffer from lower esteem and frequently miss school.

Food Service safety

2006-03-30T10:08:00.000-05:00

Food service staff plays an important role in keeping students safe, because they have control over the food they eat. Cafeteria employees must be trained to keep food safe and free from contamination. Schools should take the following measures with cafeteria employees:* Train all foodservice staff in basic food safety practices, including cooking foods to proper temperatures.

* Instruct foodservice staff to ensure that all food stored, prepared, served and consumed is as safe as possible.
* Instruct all foodservice staff to wash their hands at appropriate times.
* Make sure all foodservice personnel have the personnel protective equipment they need, including gloves and hair coverings.
* Insure proper sanitation for the entire facility, including surfaces, utensils, equipment and floors.
* Make sure all foodservice equipment is working properly and if necessary repaired, replaced or taken out of service

First aid for schools

2006-03-23T09:23:00.000-05:00

Student injuries occur during recess, team sports and field trips and first aid must be provided to prevent minor injuries from becoming major ones. Schools may have medical specialists to treat the most serious injuries, but all school employees should be able to provide routine first aid if they encounter an injured student.

The first responder to an incident should survey the scene to prevent additional accidents, call for help if needed and then administer care to the victim.

Among the injuries school personnel may be required to treat are:

* Head, neck and back injuries – immobilize the victim to assess the damage
* Choking – perform the Heimlich maneuver, if capable
* Broken bones – keep the victim still and relaxed, holding the injury in the most comfortable position
* Cuts – put on disposable gloves to avoid infected blood and place a thick, sterile gauze pad on the wound
* Human bites – wash the wound with soap and warm water, apply a mild antiseptic and cold compress
* Chemical burns – flush affected area with cool water for 15 minutes
* Eye injuries – apply sterile gauze to the cut, but never apply direct pressure to stop bleeding near the eye
* Bee sting – scrape out the stinger with a stiff piece of material
* Nose bleeds – have the student hold a tissue under each nostril to catch blood and place a cold compress on the bridge of the nose to reduce swelling
* Dental injuries – if the student has lost a tooth, fold clean gauze over the bleeding area, rinse the tooth in cold water and save it in a cup
* Muscle and joint injuries – wrap an elastic bandage around the injury and apply a cold pack

Seat belts on school buses?

2006-03-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

Should school buses have seat belts? Currently, New York and New Jersey require them, but other states don’t, with many believing school buses are better without them. The high seat backs on buses prevent children from being thrown great distances in accidents and impact absorbing materials soften the blow. “School buses are heavier, experience less crash factors and distribute crash forces differently than passenger cars and light trucks,” says The National Highway Traffic Safety Association. “Because of this, the crash force experienced by passengers of large buses is much less that that experienced by occupants of passenger cars.”

The National Coalition for Seatbelts on School Buses supports the installation of seat belts on school buses to reduce the probability of death and serious injury during crashes and rollovers. It also believes seat belt use improves passenger behavior and reduces driver distractions.

In a recent accident, 18 North Carolina preschoolers were saved by the safety seats they were wearing that were required by Head Start. When their bus rolled over, they children stayed securely in their seats and avoided harm. “The restraint worked, it kept them from pinballing around inside the bus and hitting something,” an ambulance service spokesman said.

This accident took place in a smaller school bus, less than 10,000 pounds, where seat belts are required. Similar safety restraints could reduce injuries in full size buses, too.

Warning signs

2006-03-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

In the aftermath of school shootings, including the killing of four adults and five students at Red Lake High School in northern Minnesota last March, attention is being paid to the 2002 U.S. Secret Service study of the shooters to establish warning signs that can be used to identify potential shooters and prevent the killings.

The Secret Service found that:

* incidents of targeted violence are rarely sudden, impulsive acts
* prior to most incidents, other people knew about the attacker’s ideas and plans
* most attackers engage in behavior prior to the incident that causes concern and indicates a need for help
* most attackers had difficulty coping with significant losses or personal failures
* most attackers felt bullied or persecuted by others before the attack
* most attackers had access to weapons prior to the attack

It is imperative that school administrators be aware of these warning signs and train their faculty and staff to identify students who may be at risk of causing violence.

Bus stop safety

2006-03-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

An average of 33 school-age children die in school bus-related crashes each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of the casualties are pedestrians hit at the bus stop by a passing car or the bus itself.

Bill Barnett of the Pupil Transportation division of the Georgia state department of Public Safety offers these tips to protect children from bus stop accidents:* children should arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus arrives, so they don’t run for the bus
* children should wait for the bus off the road
* children should start for the bus after it stops completely and the red light turns on
* children should use the hand rail to enter the bus and take one step at a time
* children should cross in front of a bus, far enough out so the driver can see them
* if children have to cross the street to get the bus, wait for the bus driver to signal to cross the road

Handling dangerous chemicals

2006-03-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

Dangerous chemicals found in schools, from paint solvents used in art classes to chemicals used in science and photography classes to cleaning supplies used by the maintenance staff, must be carefully controlled to avoid injury.

Schools must follow OSHA’s Hazcom Standard to identify potentially hazardous chemicals and prevent physical hazards, such as fires and explosions, and health hazards, such as dizziness and chemical burns.

Information about chemicals can be found on the warning labels and the Material Safety Data Sheets that come with the chemicals. The MSDS provides product information about the chemicals and instructions on what to do in the event of fires or chemical spills.

Proper procedures must be followed to handle, store and dispose of chemicals. Information on how to do this can be found in the MSDS.

Every school must make a special effort to comply with the OSHA Hazcom Standard to avoid chemical accidents that could harm students and staff.

Disaster preparedness for school nurses

2006-02-27T15:27:00.000-05:00

The school nurse can be a key contributor to ensuring the safety of every person in the event of disaster situations, from natural disasters like hurricanes to manmade ones like terrorism.

Before a disaster occurs, school nurses can serve in community-wide planning groups that assess the school’s ability to manage a disaster and identify the disaster preparedness for students with special needs.

During the disaster, the nurse can become an important counselor to students, families and staff and may be involved directly with the triage of victims and provide direct hands-on care.

After the disaster, the school nurse can provide support for teams working with students, parents and school personnel who are trying to deal with reactions to the disaster.

Schools have a legal responsibility to care for students and staff in an emergency or disaster and school nurses should understand their important role in the response.

Dyslexia

2006-02-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that affects 17-20 percent of school age children, who have special trouble reading and suffer from other learning disabilities, including writing and spelling.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities in Education Act, all children with dyslexia are entitled to special help in public schools to accommodate dyslexia, such as extra time for tests or homework or help with taking notes.

Unfortunately, teachers and other school personnel don’t always understand dyslexia or how they should treat dyslexic children. Lauren Moynihan, a New York lawyer who has represented children with learning disabilities and wrote Taking Dyslexia to School, offers these helpful tips:

* early testing – testing is the only way to diagnose dyslexia and early detection and treatment is essential to help children learn to read at grade level
* emotional assistance – teachers can help dyslexic students overcome their emotional struggles by praising their efforts
* academic modifications – dyslexic students may need more time to take tests; they may benefit from having books on tape; they may prefer taking tests on computers
* organized classroom – dyslexic students benefit from quieter, clutter free classrooms and assignments written on the board
* writing disabilities – dyslexic students may have trouble writing letters, so good techniques for letter forming are crucial

Bloodborne Pathogens for Cafeteria Workers

2006-02-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

A student who cuts himself in the school cafeteria could shed infected blood that carries bloodborne pathogens. Cafeteria workers must take extra care to guard themselves from the infected blood that could carry the bloodborne diseases – HIV and hepatitis B and C.

Employees must always be aware of their surroundings and use appropriate protection when cleaning up body-fluid spills, such as blood or vomit. They can also wear PPE that protects them from exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including protective eyewear and gloves.

Good personal hygiene habits also reduce the risk of exposure. If employees get infectious material on their hands, the sooner they wash, the better their chance of staying healthy. Good housekeeping practices are also important. Employees should clean and decontaminate the equipment after contact with potentially infectious material and put contaminated sharp objects in sealable containers.

Cafeteria employees should take these steps to minimize the risk of infection from bloodborne pathogens.

Asthma in schools

2006-02-14T12:03:00.000-05:00

Asthma affects nearly five million children in the U.S. and is the leading cause of school absences, resulting in a loss of 10 million school days per year.

Many children must manage their asthma at school with medications or other preventive measures, such as inhalers. Twenty-three states have laws that require schools to allow children to carry inhalers and 11 of those states permit children to carry anaphylaxis medication. In the other states, schools must establish their own medication policies.

Schools can also take these steps to create an asthma friendly environment:

be smoke free during the school day and at after school events
maintain good air quality in the school and reduce or eliminate allergens and asthma triggers, such as class pets like hamsters and art supplies that release fumes
have a school nurse on duty every day
have an emergency plan for handling severe asthma attacks in all areas, from the cafeteria to the school bus
educate school staff and students about asthma
ensure that students with asthma have safe options for participating in physical education classes

Tourette Syndrome

2006-02-10T11:11:00.000-05:00

Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by repeated, involuntary body movements or tics, such as blinking and twitching and vocal sounds such as throat clearing or sniffing, is more common among school age children than most educators believe, with approximately one percent of school boys and fewer girls affected.

Affected students can be disruptive in the classroom, but educators can take these steps to assist the students and their classmates:

* show tolerance to the affected student – the tics are involuntary
* provide opportunites for breaks out of the classroom – time in a private place can help the affected student relax and reduce the symptoms in class
* allow the affected student to take tests in a private room, so energy will not be expended suppressing tics during a quiet time
* if tics are disruptive, consider eliminating recitation in front of the class
* work with other students to help them understand the tics and reduce ridicule and teasing. School counselors and psychologists can provide information for students and staff

Child Safety Restraint System

2006-02-06T09:14:00.000-05:00

Various studies of accidents involving school buses have proven that the main cause of severe and fatal injuries is partial or full projection from seats. The use of Child Safety Restraint Systems is the key to reducing the risk of child school bus fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends these guidelines be followed for the transportation of children under 50 pounds:* Each child should be transported in a CSRS that meets applicable federal standards
* The CSRS should be properly secured to the school bus seat, using anchorages that meet the standards
* School bus seats designated for CSRS should include lap belts and anchorages that meet the standards
* Personnel responsible for securing CSRS onto school bus seats must be properly trained
* School bus seats designated for CSRS are located at the front of the vehicle to provide drivers with quick access to CSRS occupants

Back safety for school employees

2006-02-02T11:34:00.000-05:00

When a cafeteria worker serves food, when a janitor mops floors, and when a teacher writes on a chalk board they are performing repetitive motions that can cause back injury.

Every year, more than a million people suffer back injuries and school employees are among the most susceptible.

Damaging discs, ligaments, tendons and muscles in the back can be avoided by keeping the back in a neutral position, with a relaxed spine. To ease stress from repetitive motion, stop and reverse the direction frequently and take frequent breaks to stretch out your back.

Back injuries are frequently caused by improper lifting. Avoid lifting heavy loads, use a cart if necessary and move as close as you can to the load to stay balanced.

Exercising can also help you avoid back injury. Arm and leg raises, cat curls and knee to chest maneuvers provide strength and flexibility training that benefits your back.

Shortage of school nurses a national epidemic

2006-01-30T09:57:00.000-05:00

A series of student deaths and medical traumas have been attributed to the shortage of nurses in America’s public schools.

USA Today reports that 2004 census data shows roughly 56,000 student nurses work full-time in U.S. schools, one for every 950 students, which fails to meet the federal guideline of one for every 750. As a result, thousands of children with asthma, attention-deficit disorder, food allergies and other health problems rely on secretaries and other school personnel, who are frequently unqualified.

The lack of school nurses also contributes to medication errors, including one in California that led to the death of a student who wasn’t given the proper dosage.

Parents in Utah, where the nurse-to-student ratio is the worst in the country, have filed a petition seeking state funding for more nurses. But most states refuse to mandate the hiring of nurses and leave the decisions up to local school districts, which struggle to find the money. “I don’t like going without a school nurse,” says Scott Johnson, a district administrator in Wisconsin. “But I don’t like cutting a teacher, either.”

Almost half of schools nationally – 47 percent – fall short of the federally recommended nurse to student ratio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Food allergies in schools

2006-01-26T10:35:00.000-05:00

Food allergies affect 6-8 percent of school-age children and have increased 55 percent in the last five years, according to a report issued by the Massachusetts Department of Education. It also says that forty to 50% of allergic children have a high risk of anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction, which can occur within minutes of exposure to the allergen).

Allergic reactions vary among students. Some react by touching or inhaling the allergen, others can die from consumption of as little as one five-thousandth of a teaspoon of the allergenic food.

Eight foods (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish) account for 90 percent of food allergies, although any food can cause an allergic reaction.

School districts should develop policies to reduce exposure to food allergens and treat allergic reactions:

the school nurse should oversee the development of an Individualized Health Care Plan for each student
all staff should receive basic education concerning food allergies
schools should be prepared to manage an anaphylactic emergency by having personnel trained to respond, physician’s orders on file and a current supply of epinephrine and auto-injectors on hand for emergencies

Student confidentiality

2006-01-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

When a school official released information about a student’s schizophrenia, the student and his parents were deeply traumatized and they brought a costly lawsuit against the school district.

Student right to privacy or confidentiality is protected by two major federal laws that every school system must adhere to: FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

FERPA demands that all student records – from grades to disciplinary and personal information, should be kept confidential and released only with parents’ consent or students’, if they’re over 18. The records should be kept in a locked filing cabinet and not shared with school officials without written consent. Parents may request changes to the records and the school must reply promptly to their requests.

HIPAA protects the student’s past, present and future physical and mental health records. The regulation affects school based health centers, school nurse submissions and information the school sends or receives from doctors and hospitals. HIPAA regulations require parental consent before any medical information can be released. In emergencies, schools can send info, but only minimal information should be sent.

When schools follow FERPA and HIPAA guidelines, student confidentiality rights are protected and schools shield themselves from expensive lawsuits.

Monitor your playground

2006-01-16T09:37:00.000-05:00

Each year, about 200,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to playground, most on school or public playgrounds.

It is imperative that school officials monitor their playgrounds to make sure they’re safe. This can be done by:

* identifying equipment that has caused an injury and correct the problem or remove the equipment
* remove any equipment not recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, such as multiple occupancy and rope swings
* ensure that adequate depths of surfacing material exist below each piece of playground equipment
* identify all tall equipment that requires a landing surface and remove it unless tested surfacing is available
* adjust playground borders to accommodate CPSC layout guidelines
* repair any damaged equipment
* conduct a comprehensive playground safety audit

Lab Safety

2006-01-12T10:58:00.000-05:00

Middle and high school science labs are overflowing with dangerous chemicals that have the potential to ignite, burn and even explode. "They can be toxic, they can be flammable. They can be corrosive and they can be reactive," Jim Kaufman of the Laboratory Safety Institute said.

To prevent burns, lacerations and other injuries from lab accidents, the following lab safety guidelines -- from 40 Steps to a Safer Laboratory, by Jim Kaufman, should be practiced in every school.

* Set up lab equipment properly. Beware of glass items such as tubing, pipettes and cylinders.
* Turn off all gas valves, hot plates and burners when not in use.
* Provide students with safety goggles to protect their eyes from chemicals.
* Label all chemicals to show the name, the nature and degree of hazard and the appropriate precautions.
* Have a safety shower available for students to use if they are splashed with chemicals.
* Have a fire extinguisher available in case of small lab fires.
* Use proper disposal containers for wasterpaper, broken glass and flammables.
* Display phone numbers of the fire department, police department and local ambulance next to a phone in the lab.
* Provide an appropriate supply of first aid equipment and instruction on its proper use.

2006-01-09T09:22:00.000-05:00

Safe food service for schools

Knowledgeable and adequately trained foodservice staff can help prevent foodborne illness outbreaks from originating in school cafeterias.
By following established guidelines on food purchasing, storage, preparation, handling, and service, foodservice staff can greatly reduce the risk of students becoming seriously, or even fatally, ill with a foodborne illness.
Schools should follow these guidelines for a safe food service operation:

· Have at least one manager certified in food safety and sanitation in your school cafeteria.
· Train all foodservice staff in basic food safety practices.
· Keep hot foods hot (1350 F or above) and cold foods cold (410 F or below).
· Make sure employees wash hands at appropriate times.
· Ensure foodservice equipment is working properly, repair and replace when needed.
· Establish appropriate procedures and documentation for the control and safe handling of food.

Special Ed Bus Driving Safety

2006-01-04T08:31:00.000-05:00

School systems are responsible for ensuring that children with special needs are safely transported to and from school, so school bus drivers must be qualified to transport these students.

Wheelchairs are the primary mode of transport for children with special needs, so drivers must be able to secure them to the floor in a forward-facing position with fastening devices that are attached to the floor.

Drivers should also be able to respond to student seizures and deal with the behavioral problems of special ed students.

They should also have time management skills, so they can pick up special ed students at preordained times and efficiently load them on board.

Drivers should receive annual training in special needs transportation so they can provide the most current and proper support to children with special transportation requirements.

Winter driving for driver’s ed

2005-12-28T10:18:00.000-05:00

Do your driver’s ed classes train students to drive in winter weather? You can minimize their risks by training them how to drive and care for their car during the winter.

When visibility is hindered by snow or ice, drivers should slow down and turn on their low-beam headlights. Never use bright lights, because they increase the glare and make visilibity worse.

Crack the window slightly and use the defroster to clear the inside of the windshield.

On slippery roads, the braking time can be ten times longer, so stop early, let off the accelerator slowly and apply the brakes gently.

Stay behind traffic to avoid collisions.

Winter car care is also important. Drivers should make sure their batteries are rated for winter conditions, they have the right tires for winter driving and their wipers work properly to handle winter storms.

Violence on a school bus: What should a driver do?

2005-12-22T10:23:00.000-05:00

In Anchorage, AL early this year, a 13-year-old boy stabbed a classmate on a school bus. The driver who failed to notice the attack was taken off his route. What should the driver have done?

According to an article in American School & University magazine, drivers should:

* If a student is observed carrying a weapon prior to boarding a bus, the driver shouldn’t let him enter. Tell the student he is violating the law and will be reported.
* If a student is observed carrying a weapon leaving a bus, notify the authorities.
* If a weapon is observed on a moving bus, avoid conflict and stay calm. Drive to a police station, fire house or the nearest school and try to get the weapon off the bus.
* If there is a conflict on the bus, stop it in a safe place and evacuate non-involved students.
* The driver should intervene in the conflict by talking in a firm manner, but not threatening the weapon holder.
* The driver must always use common sense to react quickly to an unpredictable and possibly violent situation.

Custodial safety

2005-12-21T11:11:00.000-05:00

School custodians play an important role in the school environment for students and staff and their responsibilities grow as new technology and equipment require new skills. With proper training, custodians can stay up to date with their new responsibilities that will help them protect the health and safety of the school community.

Custodial training should include:

* Bloodborne pathogen training, including the potential risks of blood and human waste cleanups.
* Hazardous equipment, including how to operate all machinery.
* Hazardous chemicals, including training in the use, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals.
* Ergonomics, including how to properly lift to avoid back injury.
* How to identify and use different types of fire extinguishers.
* Fall safety, avoiding accidents on stairways and ladders.
* Wearing sturdy shoes and proper PPE.

Headgear for student athletes

2005-12-16T10:04:00.000-05:00

Do your students wear headgear when they participate in sports?

According to a recent Public Health Report survey, many students fail to wear headgear in all sports other than football, which contributes to head and eye injuries and lost teeth.

Many baseball players, for instance, don’t wear headgear, even when they’re at bat, and most baseball related injuries affect the head and face.

The problem is even worse for female athletes, who are much less likely to wear protective headgear than males. Female field hockey players rarely wear headgear, while male players wear it at all levels.

“Sports and recreational injuries are easily prevented,” says the study. Coaches should play a major role by instructing students in the proper fit, use and maintenance of headgear, including helmets, mouth guards and face masks.

Choking

2005-12-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

In 2001, 864 children ages 14 and under died from unintentional airway obstruction and over 17,000 were treated in emergency rooms for choking-related incidents. Every five days, a child dies from choking on food.

Children frequently choke on food and gum because of their poor chewing capability and narrow airways. The foods that provide the greatest risk include hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, marshmallows and popcorn. Children also choke on coins, which they swallow inadvertently.

Children in school who choke and cannot speak or cough need immediate assistance. Individuals who can perform the Heimlich maneuver can help by:

* standing behind the victim and wrapping their arms around her waist
* placing a fist just above the naval and below the sternum with thumbs facing inward
* grasping the fist with the other hand and giving abdominal thrusts using an in and up motion
* continuing with the thrusts until the object is dislodged
* if the victim becomes unconscious, call for medical help and begin rescue breathing

Winter driving for school bus drivers

2005-12-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

Driving a school bus in winter brings the added challenge of winter weather, which can occur at any time on a driver’s route. To prepare the bus for winter conditions and drive safely in inclement weather, your drivers should:
* dress appropriately for winter weather, with gloves, boots and layered clothing
* perform pre-trip bus inspections, check tires, chains, wiper blades, heaters, windows
* carry supplies, including ice scraper, shovel, flashlight and lantern
* test brakes before leaving the bus yard
* drive defensively – reduce speed by half when driving in snow, start braking sooner on slippery surfaces, beware of ice underneath the snow, turn on strobe lights in low visibility conditions
* know state chaining laws and how to install tire chains
* use exteme caution when loading and unloading children, who could slip on ice or get their clothing caught in the door

Check the weather-stripping around the emergency door to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the bus.

Replace broken or cracked window glass and check to see that all windows close securely to protect the children from the rain and cold.

WINTER DRIVING TIPS FOR BUS DRIVERS
Turn on the headlights and body clearance lights when visibility is poor. Be sure that you can see and be seen by others. Clean light lenses as needed for maximum brightness.

Take care of the battery in your bus to prevent cold weather problems.

Use extreme caution when loading and unloading students due to the possibility of drawstrings from certain types of clothing getting snagged on the handrail in the step0-welll area or in the service door.

Medication Management – A dose of reality

2005-12-01T11:06:00.000-05:00

One of the most important aspects of children’s health care is the administration of medications in school. About 13 million children in kindergarten through 12th grade take medication in any two-week time period, according to a Univ. of Iowa study. They take a variety of medicines, from antibiotics and asthma drugs to behavioral and mood-regulating medications. Many have serious side effects and must be taken at precise times in exact doses.

In the meantime, the number of school nurses is falling, meaning many children are getting their medications from people without a medical background, such as secretaries, teachers or counselors.

The risk of administering the wrong medicine to children is severe, because medical errors are a leading cause of death and injury and medication errors contribute to the toll.

The Center for Health and Healthcare in School says school districts should take these steps to reduce the risks:* Establish a medication policy that lists the employees who will administer medicines and make it available to staff, students and parents.

* Make sure non medical staff are trained on dispensing medication.
* Develop a systematic way of recording each time a child takes a dose of medication.
* Make sure employees who dispense medications compare student names with the names on the medication labels before administering each dose.
* Lock drugs away to prevent theft.

Playground equipment safety

2005-11-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

One of the keys to playground safety is the safety of playground equipment. The equipment should be installed and regularly inspected with the following safety tips in mind:

* Equipment should have no sharp points or edges that can cut children
* It shouldn’t contain spaces that can trap children
* It should be free of tripping hazards
* Check for dangerous hardware, like open “S” hooks or protruding bolt ends
* Make sure elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, have guard rails to prevent falls
* Swing seats should be made of something soft, not wood or metal
* Cap all screws and bolts
* Check for hot metal surfaces on slides, which could cause burns
* All equipment should sit on a level surface and be anchored firmly to the ground
* Install all equipment at least six feet from fences or walls
* Check playground regularly to make sure equipment and surfacing are in good condition

Tornado watch

2005-11-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

Tornados, violent windstorms spawned by thunderstorms or hurricanes, occur in the U.S. more than anywhere else, with 1,947 reported in 2004, the most ever! Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska are Tornado Alley, where most of the storms occur from April to June.

Tornado safety in schools starts with a tornado safety plan tailored to the building’s design and the ability to move students to safety quickly.
Moving students to the lowest possible level is safest, but in large schools there may not be time to direct all occupants of upper floors to lower areas. School administrators should evaluate the time, space and coordination needed to direct all students and staff into safe areas in an organized manner.

Seconds count! When tornados are spotted close by, there many be only one to two minutes of lead time so you must determine the safest place students can go. Enclosed places, with as many walls as possible between students and the tornado, will guard them from flying debris, the biggest tornado hazard.

Carefully developed safety drills should be run several times a year to prepare students and staff for tornados. Maps and signs with arrows should be posted in hallways directing people to safe areas.

Rider tips for school bus safety

2005-11-16T15:16:00.000-05:00

School buses remain the safest form of transportation in U.S., but they’re not accident free. According to statistics, there are 16,000 school bus collisions annually resulting in 12,000 injuries and 130 deaths.

To prevent further accidents, students should be taught how to ride school buses safely and follow these important safety tips:

* The bus driver cannot see students standing closer than 10 feet to the bus. Stay out of the danger zone when the bus approaches.

* Students should not retrieve fallen items under or near the bus. Ask the driver to get it.

* Students should wait for the bus in a safe place, away from the street.

* Students should look for safety lights when they get on or off the bus and make sure they are flashing.
* Students should be alert for other traff
ic when they exit the bus and look both ways before crossing the street.

* Cross in front of the bus after the driver says it is safe to proceed.

Make sure your students know how to ride the bus safely to avoid accidents.

student safety training

2005-10-19T14:54:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Student Safety Training blog, brought to you by Coastal Schools, a division of Coastal Training Technologies Corp. !

Coastal Schools is the leading provider of safety and health training products for the K-12 market. We offer products in the following topic areas:

· Driver's Ed
· Emergency Response
· Facilities Management
· Human Resources
· Infection Control
· Office/Administration
· Operational Safety
· School Violence
· Student Health
· Student Safety
· Transportation Safety