What Child Safety Measures Questions to Ask the School?

Considering growing child safety issues in schools, parents all over the country are worried about their child’s safety and their concern is about "how to ensure my child is safe when at school?" In case of emergency what is the school's preparedness? Where do parents seek help? Concerns such as these bring us to the point that parents need to speak to school authorities and ask them questions to know how well-prepared the school is about keeping children safe on its premises. 

Safety Measures to Ensure Child is Safe at School

We bring here six questions you should ask your child’s school. Broadly, the above points are some watch-outs that you need to keep in mind when your child is at school. However, do remember to talk to fellow parents and get their feedback on the school, as they would know it the best, if looking for a school for your child. And if your child is already admitted in a  school, you could ask the authorities about the above pointers.

• Security System: When we say security system – we mean whether there is a proper check on each and every student who goes out of the school—whether there are proper cards like authority cards issued to parents with the photographs of the parents or guardians who will pick the child from the school. This ensures the school hands the child over to only authorised people.
• Emergency Handling: Look around to see what is the format the school has available on the premises and outside to handle emergencies. Emergency handling would include the first aid treatments, doctors on call and how well does the school respond to the serious injuries that may happen during or after the school hours. This also includes a list of hospitals on board with the school.
• Teacher-student ratio: Teacher-student ratio means the number of students per teacher. In an ideal situation, the number of students per teacher should be less so that the teacher can give proper attention and react adequately in case of an injury, fall or illness.
• Child-friendly Premises: When you are checking out schools look out for the play areas of the school. Are there any potential hazards like open manholes, thorny bushes or construction debris lying around uncovered? Check out the edges of the slides-- are they soft curved or they have pointed corner? What about the tiles and the railings and railing heights on staircases.
• Maintenance of the Premises: This is something  you will get to hear from other parents and you can ask the school as well—does the school focus on the maintenance of premises, upkeep of the building, upkeep of the equipment and slides etc in gyms and play areas? What about things like routine fumigation of the campus, annual painting, etc.
• Discipline and Decorum: Discipline and decorum is best studied during the time of recess when children tend to go berserk. Yes, some good schools emphasise on discipline during the recess time as well, else someone might get hurt.
• Qualification and preparedness of the support staff: What about the ayahs and other school helps – that will include the school bus drivers, sweepers, peons and any other help that the school may hire to maintain the building or premises—are they properly trained to handle emergencies?

Educating Child About Safety Precautions

While most schools may comply with the above pointers, it is important to also teach your child to keep himself safe.

• Not to run on the stairs: Telling your child to not to run on the stairs may demand questions like why or why not? When others are doing it! Tell them that it is not safe and that they may get hurt.
• Not to venture out of the class on their own: Talk to your child about the adverse consequences of venturing of the class on their own. They may get hurt, or lost.
• Stranger danger: Teach your child to keep himself safe from strangers: not to take anything from them, not to go anywhere with them inside or outside the school premises.
• Report to the class teacher: If there is anything troubling the child, ask him or her to talk to the class teacher, as she will look into the matter and help you to resolve it amicably.
• Come to Mommy: In the end assure your child that you will be there for him or her always. And ensure that you listen and trust them when they try to tell you something that is troubling them.

Being watch guards for your child's school as well as preparing child to be safe themselves will go long way in ensuring your child is safe!