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Category: School Safety

Blog cover Helping Students Feel Safe
August 2, 2022

Back-to-School Safety Series, Pt. 2

Back-to-School Safety Series, Part 2: Helping Students Feel Safe at School

When it comes to school safety planning, the responsibility is usually placed solely in the hands of the adults. Re-evaluation of safety protocols and retraining of faculty and staff in emergency operations plans is standard practice at the beginning of a school year. Most schools even review emergency procedures with their students at the beginning of each semester. However, this transfer of knowledge is often one-way, and rarely are students asked how they feel about their own safety. In order to raise safety awareness among students, we first need to get them involved in their own safety. 

A recent survey completed by Safe and Sound Schools showed that there is a significant gap between what adults and students perceive as safety concerns. For example, most students surveyed expressed a greater concern for emotional health. Students also reported having lower confidence than their parents and teachers in the way their schools handle bullying and cyberbullying.1 

Findings from the survey include: 

  • All groups are extremely concerned about mental health crises, bullying/peer- on-peer abuse, substance abuse as well as neglect/abuse at home and even basic needs.
  • Only 60% of students felt their school or district was prepared to support students who are being bullied at school or online.
  • 79% of students perceived an increase in depression, compared to parents at 60%.2

This survey illustrates an important point about school safety awareness: What adults are emphasizing and what students are most concerned about simply do not match up. 

When raising awareness of school safety, crisis response training is vital; thorough evaluation of emergency operations plans is the bare minimum. While there are certain things that adults must emphasize, regardless of how students feel, it is important to open up the conversation about student concerns. If students do not feel safe, whether physically or emotionally, it is the adults’ responsibility to find the gaps and assess ways to fill them.

In her article, “The Safety and Security Side of Teacher Preparation,” Emily Sallee (Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Montana and the Executive Director of the Montana Safe Schools Center) says the following:

“When students feel safer, when they perceive their environment to be secure, they are neurologically more readily able to learn and retain new information. This phenomenon applies to their educators as well; when teachers feel safer, they are more readily able to teach and support their students’ learning. The key component of this is not the actual safety, whether or not related to acts of school violence. Rather, it is the perception of safety in the school environment that must be addressed and prioritized.”3

In other words, no matter how many physical security measures are taken by teachers and administration, if students do not perceive their school as a safe place, their learning will inevitably be negatively affected. The abstract feeling of safety is sometimes more difficult to address than something as concrete as gates and locks. 

“When students feel safer, when they perceive their environment to be secure, they are neurologically more readily able to learn and retain new information. This phenomenon applies to their educators as well; when teachers feel safer, they are more readily able to teach and support their students’ learning. The key component of this is not the actual safety, whether or not related to acts of school violence. Rather, it is the perception of safety in the school environment that must be addressed and prioritized.”3

-Emily Sallee, Inside Higher Ed (July 2022)

So how do we help students feel safe? 

1. LISTEN.

The first step must be to make sure students feel heard. They have their own valid concerns about safety, and not being able to express those concerns can increase anxiety. Find a way to involve students in the discussion about safety. Send out anonymous surveys and leave some questions open-ended to allow students to express concerns in their own words. Have open discussions in the classroom about safety issues and ask students for their input on ways to increase awareness of safety in their school.

2. SHOW, DON’T TELL.

Go beyond reviewing the handbook with students on the first day. Show students that your faculty and staff are serious about their safety. Post safety awareness reminders around the school. Allow students to create safety awareness posters about issues that matter to them, and then display them in the hallways. Encourage students to visit the counselor by providing them with passes or implementing a no-questions-asked policy when they express a need to visit a counselor or nurse.

3. ACTIVELY PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

 Incorporate social and emotional learning activities in classes. Allow students to take mental breaks in class. When students are feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes to address coping mechanisms for stress and confusion before launching into a re-teaching of material. 

4. PRIORITIZE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OVER BELL-TO-BELL INSTRUCTION.

This one may sting for educational leaders. Bell-to-bell instruction has often been touted as both an academic and a disciplinary measure to help students stay focused and minimize disciplinary problems within the class period. However, it can also be a way for students struggling with mental health to feel more overwhelmed and less able to cope with the unrelenting pressure to perform. Taking 5-10 minutes at the beginning or end of class to provide students time to relax and relieve stress may actually increase their productivity – and more importantly, their mental well-being – in the long run.

5. PRIORITIZE TEACHER MENTAL HEALTH AS MUCH AS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.

Teachers have one of the most difficult jobs there is, and it can take a serious mental toll. From Day One, teachers have it drilled into their heads that everything they do should be for students. However, no one can pour from an empty cup, and teachers need just as much help sometimes taking care of their own mental health. Keep planning periods sacred; Allow teachers that full time to make plans and decompress. This is not free time which can be commandeered by meetings and training sessions; it is a vital part of a teacher’s work day and crucial to their mental wellbeing and effectiveness as a professional educator. Not only is it important to help teachers feel mentally and emotionally safe, it is also a good example to set for students. When teachers and other leaders are allowed (and encouraged) to take time to decompress and have breaks within their day, it can create a ripple effect of calm across campus. 

There are many ways to enhance student mental well-being, but a good place to start is to simply open up the conversation. Students can be very insightful about where safety issues lie, especially when it comes to conflict and emotional wellness. Safety awareness begins with open, honest, and often difficult conversations about what is really going on with our students and how we can make them feel as safe as possible. 

The nSide platform is here to help schools organize their emergency operations plans, monitor physical safety, as well as provide a more efficient way to conduct behavioral assessments that evaluate students’ circumstances, well-being, and get them the adequate care they require. Contact us today at help@nside.io and let us help you get started with an evaluation of your school’s safety needs. 

Sources:

  1. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220726005066/en/State-of-School-Safety-Report-Reveals-Students-Want-More-Social-and-Emotional-Support-and-Increased-Safety
  1. https://safeandsoundschools.org/2022/07/25/state-of-school-safety-report-reveals-students-want-more-social-and-emotional-support-and-increased-safety/
  1. https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2022/07/08/school-safety-skills-and-self-awareness-future-teachers-opinion

August 2, 2022
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Back to School Blog Series Banner
July 19, 2022

Back-to-School Safety Series, Pt. 1

Part 1: Infrastructure

Back-to-school preparations have begun, and as we decorate classrooms and organize planning meetings and orientations, it’s important to make sure that safety remains our number one priority. School safety is complex, so it is helpful to break down the different components of a safe school environment. The first topic we are going to discuss is infrastructure safety.

It is no secret that children need to feel safe in order to learn effectively. Not only is reviewing the infrastructure of a school important for the physical safety of students and staff, it is also important for creating an environment that provides a consistent feeling of security and peace of mind. One thing is clear: Environment is crucial to student mental health and academic performance. Here are some questions to consider when reviewing the infrastructure of your school: 

1. Have you mitigated classroom overcrowding?

This question is two-fold:

  • Are classrooms arranged in a way that students can safely move around and evacuate in case of an emergency? 
  • Are classrooms spaced out in a way that helps students feel relaxed and not physically constrained and therefore stressed? Do students have enough space to prevent conflict? Does the arrangement of the classroom help or hurt student productivity and peace?

2. Are buildings sufficiently ventilated? 

  • Check that vents are clear in all rooms, especially restrooms and classrooms. 
  • Have HVAC units tested and maintained regularly. 
  • Check windows to make sure they can both open and lock properly. 

3. Are bathrooms well-maintained and free of plumbing issues?

It is vital for students to feel like they can use a clean restroom that is well-maintained. Not knowing if the restroom is going to be usable or safe can cause anxiety and affect students’ mental well-being, especially students with health issues. Plumbing issues can become dangerous quickly, so maintaining plumbing regularly is extremely important.

School Safety: Infrastructure ChecklistDownload

4. Is playground equipment structurally sound and free of potential hazards?

This may be an obvious one, but do a thorough inspection. Do not wait until a problem emerges to notice that there are issues. Have someone with structural knowledge evaluate the safety of any play equipment regularly so that accidents can be prevented as much as possible.

5. Are evacuation routes free of obstructions?

Most back-to-school training includes a review of safety procedures and evacuation plans. However, these plans can be recycled without much reevaluation some years, and that can be a grave mistake. Review evacuation routes with staff and ensure that these routes are kept free of any debris, obstructive vehicles, etc. 

6. Are parking lots and car lines unobstructed and free of damage?

Again, maybe this one is obvious. However, take extra time to check for potholes, dips, debris, and other problems that may escalate if not remedied early. 

7. Are cafeterias and other common gathering areas arranged to prevent overcrowding and conflict?

Evaluate the layout of these areas, as well as entrances and exits. Can students easily enter and exit the area? Can people easily walk between tables and cross to the exit quickly if needed?

8. Are all buildings free of leaks and structural damage? 

Building maintenance in schools is a huge issue across the United States, especially with budget constraints and staffing shortages. However, it is literally the foundation of school safety. Classrooms that are structurally unsound, leaking or have a smell from plumbing issues can be distracting, uncomfortable, and even unsafe when students are trying to learn. Physical security should be the bare minimal expectation when students enter your institution.

9. Are doors and gates secure?   

Even if you don’t have a technologically-advanced security system, think of the basics: Can teachers easily lock their doors quickly? Are gates locked during school hours? Is entrance to facilities restricted and controlled? Review these issues thoroughly before students return to school.

10. Does your school have a reporting system in place for maintenance issues?

 Make sure there is a plan in place for when infrastructure issues arise. When a staff member notices a leak or damage to a building, where do they report it so that immediate action can be taken? If no system is in place, create a simple way to report, and then train your staff to use it. Calls can get lost in the mix, and repeated, unaddressed reports can cause frustration and may result in the problem getting worse. Assign a staff member to organize reports and prioritize resolution of the problem.

Infrastructure is about more than brick and mortar building maintenance; it is about providing reassurance and an environment of safety that enhances learning and lets students and faculty know that nothing is more important than their wellbeing.

This list is just a starting point. Other factors to consider include making sure the main water shut-off is easily accessible, testing and inspecting electrical systems, as well as raising awareness among your faculty and staff so that they know what to look out for in these areas.

nSide is here to help make infrastructure safety monitoring easier for your school or district. Through the nSide platform, campuses can monitor locations of important infrastructure assets, so that when an issue arises, the situation can be mitigated as quickly and as efficiently as possible. HVAC and other infrastructure maintenance can also be logged and monitored directly on the platform, and nSide Maps makes it easy to plan detailed layouts of classrooms and common areas to prevent overcrowding.

Contact us today at help@nside.io and let us help you review your infrastructure safety plan and learn how to use the nSide platform most effectively to plan for the 2022-2023 school year!

Resources:

https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/seasonal-safety/back-to-school

https://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/2018/12/schools-infrastructure-a-key-element-of-students-learning-experience/

https://www.cisa.gov/blog/2021/11/10/infrastructure-security-month-keeping-nations-schools-safe-secure-and-resilient

July 19, 2022
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July 14, 2022

The nSider – 2022 Q2 Newsletter

The second quarter of 2022 has been a busy one here at nSide! Between the Mississippi partnership and summer conference season, our teams have been on the road nonstop. This quarter, we have seen a lot of progress with Mississippi mapping projects, and our team is growing every day.
Read More
July 14, 2022
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July 1, 2022

Questions Parents Need to Ask about School Safety

Planning for the coming school year is in full swing in administration offices across the country. Do you know what plans are in place for your child’s safety?

Helping your child with their homework and making sure they have the necessary tools that they need to succeed can go a long way toward supporting their education. However, it is also important to have a seat at the table when it comes to decision-making that will directly affect their safety. As a parent, knowing exactly what questions to ask when it comes to school safety is crucial. As a starting point, here are 5 questions to consider asking your local administrators: 

  1. Does my school have a current and up-to-date school safety policy?

Your school’s safety and security policy should involve an emergency operations plan (EOP) and a general security plan. Unless you have proper policies and procedures in place, it is impossible to implement security technology and other security measures effectively. Effective policies and procedures alone can help mitigate risks. Reach out to your school principal or district administration to learn more about your school’s safety policies.

  1. Is my school investing in additional physical security measures?

When it comes to safety, preparedness is key. Ideally, every school should implement a visitor check-in/out system and secure all points of access to the campus, including parking lots, playgrounds, and field areas around the school. In addition, all schools should have some kind of visual surveillance system in place. Whether this is cameras on the outside of the buildings to see who is entering and exiting or cameras in every classroom, that will depend on the size of the school and the specific security concerns at each school. Another question to ask is whether classrooms are easily and quickly secured so that there are as few obstacles as possible to ensure classroom security in the event of a lockdown.

  1. How will I be notified in case of an emergency?

In any emergency situation, clear and timely communication is crucial. Many schools have a notification system in place that sends out text messages, emails, and phone calls to parents in an emergency. If you are unclear about how your child’s school will notify you in the event of an emergency, contact your school principal or administration office for clarification. 

  1. What type of student mental health support services are available?

Undoubtedly, students suffering from mental health issues can pose a danger to themselves and others, making it vital for schools to provide counseling services to students in need. School, second only to family, is the most important developmental environment in the lives of young people. Reach out to your local school counselor to discuss available mental health resources and how your student can access them when necessary. 

  1. How can I help?

You are the best advocate for your child! Find out what plans the school has in place for emergencies. You can also request that information and training sessions be offered. Volunteer to help organize a safety forum or open meeting for parents onsite. This would give parents and guardians the opportunity to learn from and speak with administrators, local law enforcement, and mental health professionals. 

Here at nSide, we understand how overwhelming this topic of discussion can be. As a company, we take a personal approach to creating safer learning environments for all students and teachers. We offer a variety of options for security and prevention to make planning easier for schools and districts. For more information on how we can help keep your schools safe, explore our website at nside.io or contact us today at help@nside.io. 

July 1, 2022
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When they know but don't tell
June 14, 2022

When They Know But Don’t Tell

In 4 out of 5 school shootings, at least one other person knew about the shooter’s plans but failed to report it.* That statistic is staggering, and it begs the question: Why are we not reporting suspicious activity?

One issue is that those who know these plans are often children, and they are simply scared to come forward. This is understandable, as the burden of this knowledge can be too unimaginable or too heavy for an innocent child. Another issue is that we often miss the signs associated with potential violence, so when a child comes forward with information, the seeming absurdity of the information gets brushed aside. 

In the aftermath of an event as violent as a school shooting, we are left stunned, heartbroken, and shaking our heads with the weight of our own feeling of helplessness. In our desperation, we spend a lot of our energy pointing the finger of blame, trying to find ground under our feet in the midst of a scary situation that, in truth, could happen to any of us. 

One of the biggest mistakes we can make in the aftermath of a school shooting or other violent event is to assume that this is a school problem, and that we are outside the realm of control. However, few of us are truly isolated from our local schools and the communities that surround them. We all share a connection and a responsibility to look for signs of trouble.

In 4 out of 5 cases, someone knew. 

So how do we make sure that we are recognizing the signs, and how do we make sure that children feel comfortable enough to report what they know?

  1. KNOW THE SIGNS

One of the first things we can do is make sure that we recognize the signs of potential violence. In the aftermath of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, a group of parents and relatives of the victims created a nonprofit called Sandy Hook Promise, whose goal is to educate children and community members about the signs of violence and prevent future events like the one that took their children’s lives. Through extensive research, they discovered the following signs of potential violence:

  • Sudden withdrawal from family and friends
  • Bullying; especially if targeted toward a particular race, gender, etc.
  • Excessive irritability or anger
  • Chronic loneliness or social isolation
  • Expressing persistent thoughts of harming themselves or others
  • Bragging about access to guns or weapons
  • Making direct threats toward a place, themselves, or other person
  • Recruiting accomplices or audiences for an attack
  • Directly expressing a threat as a plan

  1. KNOW HOW TO REPORT

Once we know the signs, the next question is: What do we do with this information? The answer will vary depending on where you are and what is available in your community. One thing is clear, however: If this is an immediate concern or emergency situation, do not wait; Call 911. 

For other situations, most schools or districts have a reporting system in place where you can fill out relevant information and it will be directed toward the appropriate party. Check your district’s website to see where to report or simply call the school so that they can direct you to the appropriate place. If your school has the nSide platform, you can also report via our TIPS page at tips.nside.io.

  1. LISTEN AND ACT

We know to act when we witness problematic behavior ourselves, but a lot of times, children are the ones who witness red flags in their peers. Sometimes children have a hard time processing what they know, and they do not report for a variety of reasons. One reason they don’t report is fear of retaliation or fear of being labeled a tattler or a snitch. 

One way to combat this fear is by making sure we maintain an environment of trust in our classrooms, our schools, and even our households. Having honest, open conversations about hard topics can help students feel more comfortable coming forward later when they learn something troubling.

Another way to help students feel more comfortable reporting is to create or promote an existing anonymous reporting system. Reporting can actually put a child at risk, so having the option to report anonymously is extremely important.

Regardless of how students choose to report, the most important thing for adults to know is how to respond when we have that information. Understand and respect the fact that the student took a big risk in reporting and make every effort to act right away. It is vital not to waste time doubting or downplaying the situation. Every report must be taken seriously. 

CONCLUSION

Expecting children to report what they know without guidance is a dangerous and all too common mistake to make. We must build trust with students by opening communication, allowing them to remain anonymous and, perhaps most importantly, taking them seriously when they do come forward. 

One tool that can make reporting easier is nSide’s Tips page. Anyone using our platform can go to nside.io and click on Submit a Tip or go directly to tips.nside.io. For more information or for help getting started with Tips, please email us at help@nside.io.

June 14, 2022
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Increasing School Safety
May 24, 2022

Increasing School Safety Over the Summer

Summer is making its welcome arrival and as the busyness of the school year dies down, school administrators and others who work in school communities can shift their focus to improving their school environment for students returning in the fall. Utilizing the time you have available during the summer months to focus on your Emergency Operations Plan and emergency preparedness can make a tremendous difference when the routine of the school year kicks back into gear. Not only can you take this time to update your EOP, you can also use this opportunity to familiarize, train, and educate school personnel on how they can help.

Updating Your EOP

Making plans to keep students and staff safe, schools play a crucial role in taking preventative and protective measures that can save valuable moments when the unthinkable happens. This means each should dedicate time to ensuring that the information in their Emergency Operations Plan is up-to-date and that everyone in the school community knows exactly how to execute these plans in an emergency. The nSide Platform makes Emergency Operations Plans easily accessible, allows you to digitally record your emergency operations plan, and keeps you informed on what needs to be updated, what is in progress, and what has been completed. 

Staff Training/Workshops

Everyone involved in your Emergency Operations Plan should be aware of their roles and responsibilities before, during, and after an emergency. With students out for summer break, dedicating time to training and familiarizing school personnel with your specific plan will ensure that everyone involved has all the information needed to respond to emergencies. Here are a few key training components you could provide: 

  • Hold a meeting with your staff to educate, familiarize, and discuss any updates to your EOP
  • Visit your evacuation, reunification, media, and first aid sites to help your team members feel more confident in their ability to assist in an emergency
  • Post key information throughout the building(s), such as evacuation routes, shelter-in-place procedures/locations, etc. 
  • Provide proper training for your staff on the necessary skills needed to fulfill their roles

You may also consider practicing your plan. This can include:

  • Tabletop exercises: small-group discussions that walk through a scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during, and after an emergency
  • Drills: school personnel and community partners (e.g., first responders and local emergency management staff) use the school grounds and buildings to practice responding to a scenario

While planning and preparing are essential parts of any emergency operation, practicing is key to understanding pain points and identifying inefficiencies in your plan. nSide’s subject matter experts are skilled in conducting these types of training and helping your team enhance its emergency response and save lives. 

Enhance Community Relationships

There are many things administrators can do to make their schools safe, but reaching out to local emergency responders and other community agencies and including them in emergency planning can make a huge difference. Collaboration among these partners is essential to ensure that schools can mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies. While many schools have already established these partnerships, enhancing them is never a bad idea.

nSide partners can allow their local agencies access to their platform by submitting a  Memorandum of Understanding (or MOU). This is a letter of agreement that describes each agency’s roles and responsibilities and permits them to access the school’s information. Working with local law enforcement can also include implementing a School Resource Officer position, a specialized officer whose sole focus is the safety of the campus and students.  

Implement Multidisciplinary Team

Research shows that perpetrators of targeted acts of violence tend to engage in both covert and overt behaviors preceding their attacks. Implementing a multidisciplinary team approach can aid in overall behavioral assessment and intervention to identify students in need and get them the resources they need. This team serves as a central convening body, so that warning signs observed by multiple people are not considered isolated incidents when they may represent escalating behavior that is a serious concern. Your multidisciplinary team should include representatives from a wide range of school personnel, such as:

  • Principals
  • Counselors
  • School Resource Officers
  • Teachers
  • Other appropriate personnel

When the right people on your team come together to identify students exhibiting behavior that indicates an underlying need or issue, the root cause can be detected and the child will be able to receive appropriate and adequate care. 

Update Safety Infrastructure 

In addition to an emergency response plan, having the necessary infrastructure will ensure the effectiveness of that plan. Having the proper equipment in place and utilizing technology will aid in the efforts you have laid out in your emergency planning to prevent and respond to emergency situations.  Some things you can put in place to boost your safety infrastructure are:

  • Cameras
  • Access control systems 
  • Fleet tracking technology
  • Cell signal boost
  • Emergency notification systems 

Attend School Safety Conferences 

Another way to build your emergency planning and response knowledge is to attend school safety conferences. Throughout the summer, conferences are held nationwide to encourage and prepare educators. These conferences are great educational opportunities where you can learn best practices, meet experts in the school safety field, and learn about new technologies and solutions that can help you execute safety improvements. 

How Can We Help?

To keep schools truly safe, it is critical that a good plan is in place for emergencies and that each member of the school community knows what their role is in the event of an emergency. There are many moving parts when it comes to safety and the most important thing is that those parts are well oiled and synchronized. Otherwise, you are left with a fragmented system. 

The nSide Platform is designed to integrate your school’s infrastructure, assets, and resources in one place that can be accessed quickly and easily. There are five key mission areas in school safety: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Everything we offer is centered around connecting your school community to make reactions quick and directions clear. We work to help you create an environment that saves lives and feels safe so learning can flourish.

May 24, 2022
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nSide+Mississippi
February 17, 2022

nSide, Inc. Granted Health and School Safety Contract with the Mississippi Department of Education

nSide – The School Safety Platform has been approved by the Mississippi State Board of Education to provide Mississippi Schools with a Health and School Safety Platform. 

The contract between the Mississippi Department of Education and nSide, Inc. would provide a web-based solution for public school districts for the consistent and equitable development and implementation of all components of the Mississippi Department Crisis Management Plan. 

Mississippi’s use of the nSide platform includes the ability to create, store, and distribute an Emergency Operations Plan within the nSide platform, access to a navigable “virtual campus” created with 360-degree photos of all schools and district central offices, a rapid emergency notification application for instances such as medical, fire, or other potential emergency situations as well as the option to participate in the surveillance module of the platform by receiving one surveillance camera per district central office and up to five surveillance cameras per school. 

nSide is excited to embark on this partnership with MDE and Mississippi Schools.

February 17, 2022
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October 13, 2021

nSide’s 2021 Safety Summit Agenda is Here!

We have been working hard to prepare for our 2021 Annual School Safety Summit in Alabama! Due to COVID-19, we were unable to host our this event in 2020, but we are thrilled to be back this year with a full schedule of learning opportunities, nSide updates, and fantastic speakers! 

Today, we are sharing our full detailed agenda with everything we have in store. If you have not already registered, don’t wait too long! With this line up of content, spots are going to fill up quickly, so head over to the nSide website and get registered today! 

Join us at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, December 6 & 7! 

Make sure you are following us on social media! We are going to be announcing our line up of speakers and presenters in the coming weeks and by following, you will be the first to know. You can also find more information and register for the Safety Summit at our website conferences.nside.io!

Also, don’t forget to book your stay at the Lodge or one of the other partner hotels! We’ve got great rates for you to have a relaxing stay during our conference. 

Register Now!
October 13, 2021
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nSide_All_Products_May_21
September 16, 2021

Reduce Fragmentation and Increase School Security

WHAT IS FRAGMENTATION IN SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS?
In order to keep schools truly safe, not only is it critical that a school have a good plan in place for emergencies, but also that each member of the school community knows what their role is in the event of an emergency and they are able to easily access and manage the technology needed to prevent or end an emergency. Schools often have different pieces of the puzzle to approach school safety, but rarely do the pieces talk to each other. This is a fragmented safety plan. Each piece of a fragmented safety plan requires different skill sets, and often different people are in charge of different components. Maybe your school’s safety plan is written in a document, maps are posted around the school, and cameras are managed through a server that only one person has access to.

WHY IS FRAGMENTATION BAD?
You might have cameras, door locks, and communication systems, but are they all accessed separately? Does one communicate with another? When the unthinkable happens, every second counts. Using fragmented safety solutions can cost you critical moments that can mean the difference between life and death. According to an Inc. Article, “The problem now is the proliferation of these enterprise apps. These tools hold all the data that grows a business, but the more apps used, the harder it is to read that data, let alone make it actionable.”

WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO UNIFY YOUR SCHOOL’S SAFETY ASSETS?

  • Communication is key! Making sure all stakeholders are in the same room when putting together the emergency operation plan. Ensuring that everyone understand their role and knows what to do in the event of any type of situation.
  • Standardize your district’s EOP. Do all schools follow the same guidelines? Can more than one person answer a question related to your EOP or school safety assets? Is there a standard for mapping your facility and emergency equipment? Can you see your cameras in conjunction with your school’s floor plan? These are great questions to get started in unifying your school’s safety assets.

HOW CAN NSIDE HELP REDUCE FRAGMENTATION?
The nSide platform is designed integrate your school’s infrastructure, assets and resources in one place that can be accessed quickly and easily. We use this connected technology to bring together everyone in your school community including administrators, SROs, transportation managers, teachers, students, law enforcement and EMS and make sure they understand what to do in the event of an emergency. Everything we offer is centered around connecting these groups to make reactions quick and directions clear. We work to help you create an environment that not only saves lives, but also creates an environment that feels safe so learning can flourish.

The nSide Platform and Suite of technologies helps keep all school safety initiatives in one place.

When all technology is in one place, good things happen.

  • Help arrives faster
  • Everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency
  • Less time is spent scrambling in an emergency
  • Lives are saved

Email us at help@nside.io and we can help you find the right solutions for your school and organize all of your schools safety needs in one place!

September 16, 2021
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August 24, 2021

Why Interior Mapping of Your School is Critical for Safety

Interior Mapping – What is it?

If you’re familiar with Google Street View, then the concept of a 360 degree map is not foreign. From anywhere in the world, users can travel down the streets of any city, and look in any direction. But did you know the same technology is also available for the inside of buildings? Now your entire campus can be mapped in a 360 degree view. 

This video gives a demonstration of how essential interior mapping can be in an emergency situation.

By collecting 360-degree photographs in hallways and rooms, these images can be linked together to create a virtual tour of the building. This allows you to navigate through buildings within nSide – The School Safety Platform. When your organization and local first responders have access to this data, it equips your team with situational awareness for emergency planning, training, response, and recovery efforts.

This can help save lives in the following ways:

  1. Assets are catalogued for insurance purposes
  2. The campus is mapped to aid in recovery efforts after a storm or destruction of the building
  3. First responders have access to the map of the school to avoid potential threats to themselves
  4. Dispatchers can help guide those involved in rescue efforts to get where they need to be faster, even in the dark

If you already have the nSide School Safety platform, it’s easy to upgrade your standard map to nSide |View. Having that visibility into your school buildings can mean the difference between critical seconds when an emergency happens.

Call us today to get started!

1800.604.1822

August 24, 2021
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