In a time that seems to be marked by violence, one of the biggest concerns that people have is the safety of their children. This is not as big of an issue when children are within arm’s reach at home, but children will inevitably need to attend school. A school should be one of the safest places a child can be, but unfortunately this is not always the case. When an intruder makes his or her way into a school it can result in the most dire of consequences. For example, the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut goes to show the worst case scenario of what can happen when someone with malicious intent enters a building full of children. The best way to increase security at a school is to have appropriate security equipment installed.

Almost 85% of high schools, 75% of middle schools, and 50% of elementary schools report that they monitor their schools using security cameras. Using commercial security cameras or wireless security cameras systems can keep an eye out when there is no one else to, and the fact that there are security cameras in a certain area can discourage a criminal from engaging in dangerous behavior in the first place. Research shows that crime rates drop by about 20% in the areas that security cameras are installed. If they do not deter the criminal, footage from the security cameras can be used by law enforcement officials to potentially find the perpetrator and bring him or her to justice.

An important part of keeping a school safe is making sure that no one enters who does not a have a reason to be there, which makes security access systems an ideal addition to any school security system. Security access systems can limit access to the school to only people who have the clearance to be there. Rather than allowing anyone to enter, security access systems can be set up at multiple entrances and only allow people who have the correct PIN, swipe card, or even fingerprint to enter.

We simply cannot be too careful when it comes to security, especially when it can help keep children safe. If you are in charge of a school you should know that hiring a professional company to install and monitor security card access systems and outdoor security camera systems can be the most effective security measures to help keep those children safe.