While schools are a place of learning, they can often be a place of medical emergencies due to illness or injury. They are also, unfortunately, prone to lockdown emergencies in the event of a threat, as well as serving as de facto shelters during natural disasters.
In recent years, many schools have seen the loss of a full-time onsite nursing professional, which makes it even more imperative that each school develops a robust campus emergency preparedness plan. This should include disaster kits that are specifically tailored for educational institutions.
What Is a Are Campus Disaster Kits?
These kits come in several varieties, depending on what type of emergency the school is facing. They include:
Classroom lockdown kits. These are emergency kits that will help teachers and school administrators in the event of a prolonged lockdown emergency. They may include high-calorie food bars and water pouches, water purification tablets, an AM/FM radio with a hand crank, emergency thermal blankets, flashlights and lanterns plus batteries, emergency signage and a whistle, a tarp and duct tape, tools, biohazard bags and a bucket-style toilet with a seat and toilet paper.
Lockdown latches. In the event of a lockdown, teachers are trained to secure the door to prevent any intruders from entering the classroom. Ordinary door locks may not do the trick, so some educational institutions are purchasing lockdown latches that can be installed on the door and kept ready in the event of an emergency due to an intruder attempting to enter the classroom.
Bleeding control stations. Children are prone to injuries, particularly during sports and gym sessions as well as tool-oriented classes such as wood and metal shop. Bleeding control stations provide first responders and education professionals with fast access to the essential equipment necessary to halt serious and life-threatening bleeding on educational and/or public premises until medical help can arrive. These kits include tourniquets, wound-packing gauze, emergency trauma dressings, shears, gloves and an emergency blanket.
Eyewash stations. Schools are frequent users of caustic chemicals due to the presence of science and art classes, agricultural setups, and more. For this reason, it’s imperative that campuses be fully stocked with professional eyewash stations. Eyewash stations typically involve a portable kit that includes a faucet as well as eye and skin-flushing solutions.
First aid kits. Professional first aid kits are mandatory for school safety and preparedness. OSHA and ANSI-compliant (Class A & Class B) industrial first aid cabinets provide schools with everything they need to attend to minor medical emergencies, including wound dressing materials, tools, antiseptic products, eyewash and over-the-counter medications.
AEDs. In many areas, schools are required to keep and maintain automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in the event of a cardiac event on the premises. These usually include a Samaritan PAD, which is a small and lightweight unit designed for lay rescuers without medical or emergency training.
In California, Unishield Offers Customized Safety Training
Well-versed in everything from CPR to disaster preparedness, Southern California-based Unishield teaches schools, shops, factories, offices and restaurants how to prevent and conquer emergency situations. We offer first aid supplies, first aid kits and refills, OSHA-compliant personal protective equipment, and on-site safety training throughout Greater Los Angeles, San Diego County, Orange County, Ventura County, and San Bernardino County.
The safety of our clients and the people who trust them is our number one priority. That’s why in addition to our full line of medical equipment and first aid kit supplies, we also offer on-site training sessions that can be customized for your business’s unique needs. For more information or to get a quote, call 800-480-5855 or visit our website.