School Hardening: 5 Products to Keep Teachers and Students Safe

Published on: 02 April 2019 Last Updated on: 20 July 2022

In 2021, schools in the United States experienced 23 school shootings. This equates to a school shooting every 8 days. Unfortunately, because of the shootings, parents have started to become more concerned about the safety of their children in schools. It’s important to know that academic institutions, among others, can be considered an essential environment as children usually spend more time every day with their teachers and peers. But with the recent school shootings in the country, it’s about time that the schools address the security threats to ensure the safety of all students. This is where school hardening comes into play.

However, in school hardening you have to understand several aspects. After the Parkland shooting in Florida, the concept of school hardening came into the spotlight.

School hardening aims to make it difficult for a potential assailant to enter the school and injure children or staff. The process looks different based on the school. It can include solely physical barriers and metal detectors or even arming children with weapons such as mini bats and rocks to use against an assailant.

Keep reading to learn about 5 school hardening products that can help keep teachers and students safe.

Florida School Hardening:

In February 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School suffered a school shooting where 17 students and staff were killed and 17 others were injured.

After the shooting, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act was passed to allocate $400 million to schools to promote school hardening.

Many states and Congress have also allocated money to help protect schools.

School Hardening Products:

Children have the right to feel safe in school. Although school hardening cannot guarantee your child’s safety, it has become essential in this day and age.

With more parents becoming worried about their kids’ safety, schools should boost their security efforts during the opening of classes. For example, they should add advanced security systems along with security signages and other related back to school images around the premises. That way, the parents will have peace of mind knowing the schools take their children’s safety and security seriously.

But aside from these items, here are 5 school hardening products that can help protect schools from active shooters. These are often great products to keep teachers safe, as well.

1. Bulletproof Backpacks:

Bulletproof backpacks are a form of gun defense for children. It can only be the best safety element that parents can have control of. Once their children leave for school, they no longer know what happens to them. But with these backpacks, you can rest knowing your kids have something that can protect them against potential security threats. Just teach them how to use the bags properly to obtain a more favorable outcome.

However, it’s important to know that most only work to block the bullets of a handgun, and would not work against rifles or large caliber bullets. But despite the limitation, requiring students to use bulletproof backpacks can still provide an added layer of protection while they’re in school. Lastly, bulletproof backpacks are convenient as they work just like any other bag but with certain safety features.

2. Auto-Lock Doors:

In many active shooter situations, locked doors are enough to deter a shooter. They often continue onward to another area rather than attempting to break into the door.

Auto-lock doors can be manually activated by teachers when all students enter the classroom. An electronic system can also automatically lock doors, especially in the case of an emergency.

3. Bulletproof Doors and Windows:

During the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the assailant shot through the glass of locked doors. Manufacturing doors and windows with bulletproof glass would make it more difficult. However, the glass is not completely bulletproof, so the right weapons may penetrate the glass.

4. Barricades:

There is a myriad of products that can help teachers barricade their doors in the case of an emergency. These items prevent someone from entering a classroom. However, these items should comply with fire safety standards and allow staff and students to quickly exit in the case of a fire.

5. Security Cameras:

Security cameras, when actively monitored by staff, are a great way to view potential security threats. Spotting a strange individual or car can allow staff to act quickly and get law enforcement involved.

Final Thoughts:

With the increase of school shootings across the United States, school hardening has become more important than ever.

We covered 5 amazing products that can help staff and students stay safe in the case of a crisis.

For more articles the newest products that can keep you safe, visit our blog today.

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Using the aptitude test for hiring a Pilot

At times, when you come across the right type of candidate who has applied for the pilot in your aviation academy, the very first thing that might click your mind is whether the candidate is actually a good person to handle such flexible job or not. The job role of a pilot is way lot different than the job role of any other candidate, after all, the lives of many individuals on the air depends upon him. It is expected to form the person to be physically and mentally fit to fly the plane. And for this, it is important to assess the candidate with the right assessment solution. Understanding the concept of aptitude test for Pilot: The focus of the pilot aptitude test is to know whether the candidate is mentally fit and can use the skills in the right manner or not. The aptitude test is categorized in different forms. Psychometric test is one part of it. The test depicts a clear examination of the behavioral tendency of the candidate and whether the person can understand different mindsets that would be traveling with the person or not. A pilot has to be extremely of a balanced nature and must see to it that he fly the plane in a way that the passengers feel safe and secured. No doubt that this job has got a lot of responsibilities and it is expected that the person who applies for such job role is only expected to fulfill all the requirements that aviation industry would expect him to do. Benefits of using such test: Such type of test not only benefits the aviation industry to know the pilot but also helps the candidate know whether he is actually performing well or there are some areas of improvement on which he needs to work upon. Such type of test is a great solution for the employer to know if the mind-sets that would be working in their organization as the pilot are stable, can take active participation and weather can bring out the best from themselves for better output or not. The pilot would be taking the passengers to different countries through different weather situations. Condition at times can be worst and it is expected form the person to have an active approach to handle such situations so that passengers are reached to the destination safely and without any kind of problem. With minimal investment and conducting the subject matter expert to design such a test, there is no doubt that you will get the possible outcome. But again, it is important for you to keep in mind that creating such a test needs to be highly secured. Using proctored software can reduce the risk of fakers and cheaters. Besides, you will understand how serious the candidate is for such type of job role. Now things are in your hand and as an employer, definitely, you would not want to waste the investment that you have made in the aviation academy or the pilot whom you are intending to hire.

Preparing Your Child for Future is Not Just About Education Anymore

Parents play a crucial role in the growth and development of their child. Children learn from their parents by simply observing them from a young age. Children are really inquisitive and ask tons of questions about everything. Though your child is growing up fast, the world is moving faster. This is the time to understand that preparing your child for the future is not limited to education any longer. You need to prepare your child for a global world, and this means you need to go farther than education. As a smart parent, you need to teach wise money management skills to your children. Children observe you deal with money matters in your home and learn from your actions. If you are a spendthrift, your children will consider it okay to spend money on unnecessary items. However, if you carefully plan your finances and build a budget, your children will learn to do the same. Every parent wants to ensure that their child is financially responsible, and this can be achieved through simple but consistent steps. Here is how you can prepare your child for being financially independent and responsible. 1. Set an Example : Young children watch you and learn. If they constantly see you use plastic money, they will notice that it is easy to swipe the card and when you argue with your partner about money, they will notice it too. You need to set an example for them in order to ensure that they understand and follow the same as they grow up. 2. Practically Explain the Importance of Money : Children need to understand that it is not easy to earn money. To do this, you need to physically hand them money and accompany them to a store, ask them to pick up a few items and make the payment for the same. This will work better than a ten-minute lecture on the importance of money. 3. Stay Away from Impulse Buys : In order to set a healthy example, you need to stay away from making impulse buys. You need to restrain yourself from using money without thinking over it. If your children ask you to buy them something every time you are at the store, you need to avoid it and encourage your children to wait for at least a day before making the purchase. Ask them to think over it and consider if they really want to spend the money on the purchase. 4. Build A Budget : If your child is a teenager, it is the right time to introduce the importance of the budget to them. Set a simple budget and ask your child to stick to it. This will help your teen understand financial discipline and to stick to a limited budget through the week or the month. As your child grows, you can ask him or her to make their own budget within the specified amount and to follow the same. 5. Teach Children to Stay Away from Loans : It seems extremely simple to apply for a loan and borrow money. But it does not come for free; there is a responsibility of making payments within the due time. Before your teen starts college or applies for the first job, you need to explain to him/her that it is best to steer clear of the loans. Talk through alternatives and encourage the habit of saving. It is best to spend the money within your limits instead of getting under a pile of debt. 6. Enroll them For Financial Certification Exams : There are various certification exams conducted by NSE, BSE, etc. Ask your child to enroll for the same. These examinations will help them learn about the investment domain. There are various modules to select, like mutual funds, derivatives, banking fundamentals, financial markets, etc. As you prepare your child for their bright future, you must also fulfill your responsibility towards securing their future. What this means is financial planning for their higher education and career. The best way to do so is by investing in the child education plan. If you have got time on your side, you can put your funds in child education plans such as SIPs in equity-oriented funds. Equities are the best option available to create wealth in the long term. However, considering the volatility involved indirectly investing in stocks, the SIP route of mutual fund investing provides a better option for parents who are looking to create a considerable corpus for their child’s future. Moreover, your investment in child education plan is managed by professionals who have expertise in cherry-picking stocks. Thus, you have a highly diversified portfolio which can provide considerable returns over the long run (*mutual funds returns vary according to on-going market conditions). Conclusion: Financial freedom is only valuable if it is accompanied by financial responsibility. Teaching children about finances at a young age will help them in getting future-ready.

Should you Study a Business Course Online?

With the world becoming more interconnected with rapid advancements in technology, the business world is becoming a dynamic platform for complex economic transactions. Hence, it is essential to know the progress made in the field to compete with other qualified people in the domain. Business course online is an excellent way to gain a foothold in the corporate industry, especially if you belong to a different academic background. They are also gaining popularity because they are cheaper than regular business degrees without compromising on the quality of the education provided. Who are some people who pursue Online Business Courses? There are millions of people all over the world, who take up online business courses. Have you ever heard of someone who leapfrogged his way into the top management overnight? Or someone who shifted careers in front of you and is now a hot-shot VP in a big MNC? What did these people do that catapulted them to success? The answer is often learning and constant self-development. The rigors of a 9-5 job do not leave ample room for progressing when it comes to developing yourself. This forces you to be stuck at a position that can only afford you minimum growth and sustenance. The key to destroying this rat race is to improve your skills and add to your qualifications. If you present the improved version of yourself to your employer, he will have no chance but to promote you and give you the commensurate increment. In our experience, we have seen students juggling multiple careers, while at the same time rigorously preparing and following business courses online. It does not matter whether you want to be a hotshot Investment Banker on Wall Street or an Entrepreneur jet setting his way across continents, you will have to develop yourself to take the leap. If you want to start a business career and are looking for options, you should consider opting for online business courses. If you are unsure about these courses, this blog can be an eye-opener. Read on to find out about the various benefits of online business courses. Benefits of pursuing a business course online: Business courses are a great medium of teaching you how to solve issues in a business environment. Here are some benefits of studying business courses online. i) Convenience: While you might be familiar with a conventional education set-up, pursuing a business course online can afford you a lot of conveniences. Online classes can allow you to study from your home, the local library, or any other place with an active internet connection. Some universities also offer the option of recording the video lectures so that you are not inconvenienced by issues like illnesses or a bad internet connection. ii) A personalized timeline: While conventional degrees require you to adhere to their fixed schedules, online courses can allow working around your schedule. As a result, you don’t have to worry about rigid schedules or inflexible course options. Conventional business schools also demand a strict attendance percentage, which is much relaxed in the case of online courses. iii) A chance for national and international collaboration: If you think that online courses do not match up to the networking opportunities in a conventional academic set-up, you may be in for a surprise. You are joined by students from different backgrounds and geographical locations. You also get the chance to interact with your peers and faculty, discuss weekly assignments, or ask questions. Many online business courses also hold separate networking opportunities to provide their students to meet and interact with each other. iv) Affordability: Conventional business courses can cost a small fortune, and not everyone is able to afford them. But online business courses cost a fraction of traditional courses, which can easily fit in your budget. In addition, you can also forego the expenses of living on the college campus or travelling till there every day. v) The flexibility of maintaining work with academics: A major advantage of online business courses is the flexibility to pursue them while working a 9 to 5 job. Unlike conventional courses that require you to fulfill college credits within a specified time, online courses offer a more relaxed timeline that does not require you to compromise on your career. Things to remember before opting for an Online Business Course: It is important to pay attention to the fact that you would need to set your priorities. If you are paying the fee and have the intention of seeing it through, you need to take out time from your routine. While some shady courses, might give you certifications in exchange for money, the best ones are rigorous and involve tests and appraisals to test your growth and development. It is also important to check some references and see the benefits that people have accrued who have taken up the course. Connect with them over LinkedIn or social media and see the impact the course has had on their professional life. Do not believe every positive thing the platform or the course says about itself. Tap into some Quora and Reddit articles, see, and analyze things for yourself. You will not end up spending more than an evening doing your research. Always remember that you would be investing time, money and effort in the online business course. Hence doing the background check and references is essential. Conclusion: Pursuing a business course online is a great way to tap into the business boom in recent years without hampering your existing career or economic status. With new companies being established every day, enroll in a business course online to establish a well-paying business career. Many people have benefitted immensely from taking up an online business course. They have not only seen their professional life being impacted in a positive way but have also experienced the improvement in their personal lives. If you are of an ambitious nature and want to give your career a much-needed boost, an online business course might just be the avenue you were looking for. Do let us know about some great platforms, which are offering online business courses in the comments section below. Read Also: How Do You Grow Your Business Online? How To Grow Your E-Commerce Business The Many Benefits Of Online Education Quit The Rat Race: 5 Tips For Becoming An Online Entrepreneur

School Hardening: 5 Products to Keep Teachers and Students Safe

Florida School Hardening: