Spring 2023 School Safety Trends Report: Many Key Findings are Consistent with the Fall 2022 Report
Campus safety and security remain paramount concerns for educational institutions. Since publishing our last report on School Safety Trends in Fall 2022, certain key findings have remained consistent. Everyday incidents that escalate and need additional support to resolve, from student altercations to staff medical emergencies, continue to make up the majority of alerts sent to campus administrators. Campus-wide events represent a small percentage. Additionally, nearly half of all incidents occur outside the classroom, emphasizing the need for precise location detail in emergency response systems. Finally, school staff members prefer a wearable panic button over other methods due to its accessibility, discretion, and ease of use. There have been three notable challenges observed since the previous report:
- Teachers face rising levels of violence in schools.
- Districts struggle to find emergency response solutions that deliver 100% adoption.
- Districts need school safety procedures and solutions that reduce response time; doing so saves lives.
Teachers Face Rising Levels of Violence in Schools: How Safety Solutions Can Improve Retention
Teachers, the backbone of education, are increasingly facing violence in their workplaces. Shockingly, the number of workers’ compensation claims related to assault has reached a five-year high, standing at over 1350 incidents, according to claims and risk management services firm Gallagher Bassett. In a recent APA survey, 14% of educators report experiencing physical violence. This has significantly impacted staff well-being and job satisfaction, with 49% wanting to quit or switch schools. Educational leaders need to prioritize their staff’s safety and empower them with effective solutions and training. CrisisAlert allows anyone to activate an alert to indicate that help is needed by whom and where. This results in swift response times and potentially saves lives. Staff who used their badge in Spring 2023 reported that they felt:
- safer,
- supported, and
- empowered to resolve the situation rapidly.
Investing in safety and security solutions is crucial for protecting individuals and for recruitment and retention within the education sector.
The Rate of Safety Incidents Has Increased: How to Reduce Response Time
The rate of safety incidents continues to rise, reflecting the growing need for comprehensive safety measures:
- There was a 15% increase in staff members initiating alerts since our previous report.
- The average number of staff members per school requesting aid has increased to 6.7.
- The average number of alerts per user has jumped from 2.9 to 3.3.
While student conduct remains the primary source of alerts, the specific incidents have shifted slightly. Elopement incidents have decreased, whereas physical altercations and general behavioral issues have increased. Medical incidents continue to hold steady, highlighting the importance of wearable panic buttons for medical emergencies. The ability to quickly and accurately locate individuals in distress can be the difference between life and death. CrisisAlert has proven highly effective, as evidenced by testimonials showcasing how a rapid response can save a life. CrisisAlert’s innovative technology provides the most easily accessible communication device for teachers and staff when facing an emergency in or out of the classroom. The CrisisAlert platform enables districts to quickly deploy emergency response protocols with real-time alerts that reach the right people immediately. By introducing CrisisAlert into school district safety plans, leaders can create safer learning environments and respond more quickly to issues on campus.
Alyssa’s Law: How CrisisAlert Exceeds New Legislative Safety Requirements
CrisisAlert not only meets compliance requirements but also aligns with the principles of Alyssa’s Law. This initiative aims at improving law enforcement response time during public school emergencies. Alyssa’s Law has been passed in several states, including Florida, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Texas. Many other states are currently considering the legislation. CrisisAlert meets all state requirements and effectively addresses communication gaps that may arise with mobile phone-based emergency response apps during crisis incidents. CrisisAlert goes beyond basic compliance, offering:
- network connectivity of indoor and outdoor spaces on campus,
- room- and floor-level incident mapping accuracy,
- audio/visual alerts for lockdown situations,
- integration with intercom systems, and
- wearable silent panic buttons that significantly reduce response time.
By embracing CrisisAlert, schools can provide a robust and compliant emergency response system that maximizes safety for all stakeholders.
CrisisAlert is the Solution to Ensuring Staff and Student Safety
During a school leadership panel discussion, several key takeaways came out of the conversation:
- CrisisAlert wearable badges empower every staff member to signal a need for help extending safety coverage to teachers, support staff, custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, food service personnel, substitutes, administrators and more.
- CrisisAlert can connect directly with 911 dispatch to relay that a school has been put in lockdown and precisely where the alert originated.
- CrisisAlert is known for its simplicity in training, usage, and maintenance, offering a one-touch activation for immediate help. The system’s easy activation provides peace of mind to educators, students and parents.
CrisisAlert badges have emerged as the simplest, most reliable solution for obtaining help during campus emergencies. With total staff coverage and high user satisfaction rates, CrisisAlert badges ensure that staff feel safe, supported, and empowered to resolve situations rapidly. The 2023 Spring Term School Safety Trends Report proves that CrisisAlert’s emergency response technology positively impacts school safety. Download the report today to see how your safety incidents compare with the usage data from CrisisAlert at schools across the U.S.