Report: States, Schools Falling Behind In Child Safety

Somerville, NJ August 12th, 2015 - After a much-needed break that’s allowed both students and teachers to recharge, classes will shortly resume as the back-to-school season begins once more. In many ways, the beginning of the school year is a lot like New Year’s, when resolutions are made. High-achieving students recommit to their studies, while faculty members up their game in an effort to make lessons as clear and understandable as possible to create the optimal learning environment.

With an estimated 90% of high schoolers projected to graduate on time by 2020, according to a recent poll, it’s fair to say that learning facilities are succeeding on the scholastic front. But unfortunately, for several states and school systems, the same can’t be said when it comes to keeping kids protected from harm during a crisis - natural disaster or otherwise.

The U.S. hurricane season has been through quite the drought over the last several years. According to the National Weather Service, not a single major hurricane has made landfall since 2005, the last one being Hurricane Wilma, which struck the Southeast on Oct. 24. This is the same year that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and Mississippi, which you’ll recall left a major path of destruction after levees breached, forcing homeowners to abandon their properties and schools in hard-hit areas to close, some of which have never re-opened.

Yet despite the decade that’s gone by, many of the safety recommendations that have been suggested by non-governmental organizations and child advocacy groups have not been implemented.

4 in 5 safety suggestions not addressed adequately
According to NGO Save the Children, 80% of the safety recommendations issued in its report - the National Commission on Children and Disasters - have not been satisfied, the group noted recently in a progress report.

Altogether, 81 recommendations were made in the report. Thus far, however, only 17 have been fully addressed. Approximately 40 safety reforms are currently in the works, but have yet to be fully integrated. The remaining haven’t been confronted.

Carolyn Miles, Save the Children president and CEO, noted that there’s no excuse for not providing kids with the protections they need when things go bad.

“A decade after the nation’s Katrina wake-up call, it’s unacceptable that children across the country still face unnecessary risks to their safety, health, emotional well-being and long-term development should disaster strike,” Miles said. “We know children’s unique needs make them especially vulnerable during and after emergencies. Our nation’s children deserve better without further delay.”

Progress made in several key areas
That said, states and school systems have taken some substantial strides, according to the report. For example, 32 states score well in emergency planning, successfully meeting Save the Children’s four minimum planning standards, which includes having a system in place to evacuate children, reuniting families who are separated post-disaster, assisting children with disabilities, as well as a multi-hazard plan for all schools from kindergarten through grade 12.

But urgent action is still needed in other areas, like improving emergency pediatric health capacity and transport coordination. This is pivotal, because if several people are seriously injured after a natural disaster, the proper mechanisms need to be in place for hospitals to admit multiple people at once.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted another below-normal year for hurricanes. But there are several other environmental catastrophes that can strike at any time, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding. The American Red Cross has a program that schools and businesses might want to consider. Called Ready Rating, the safety initiative gauges organizations’ level of preparedness and offers tips on the best tools and practices that helps ensure people are protected.

When schools are forced to close after a disaster, time is of the essence to get things back to normal again. Speak with a local TIC agent for the property insurance coverage that helps make this possible.

For more information, visit The Insurance Center’s website.

Or contact Donna Bateman for a Quote at 908-271-2073

Article from Selective Insurance Group