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School Safety is Focus of Professional Development Day

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder Presenting to Students thumbnail245369

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder attended the Central High School District’s Superintendent’s Conference Day on April 21 and offered opening remarks to teaching staff and administrators.

Commissioner Ryder spoke to the district staff about new programs, protocols and initiatives that have been implemented in Nassau County to make schools safer.

“With the safety and security of our students and staff always being a top priority, we were truly grateful to have Commissioner Ryder deliver a wonderful keynote address to kick off our Emergency Preparedness Professional Development Day,” superintendent Michael Harrington said.

Eric Caballero, the district’s director of athletics, physical education and health called the day “a resounding success.”

“At this time, with the landscape revolving around education so drastically different with regard to the health and safety of faculty, students and staff, training/workshops of this kind are instrumental for both morale and becoming educated for the appropriate response to emergency situations that could occur within our schools,” he added.

Nassau County Police officers led situational awareness workshops to help increase vigilance and awareness amongst educators.The S.A.F.E. training aims help identify, process and comprehend information about how to survive in an emergency situation.

“This helps you to know what’s going on around you and making smart decisions,” said PoliceOfficer Kevin Glenn of the NCPD Division of Homeland Security. “Don’t focus on the end of incidents, rather the process of getting through it.”

The day continued with various breakout sessions led by professionals. Offerings included EpiPen and Narcan training, self-defense tactics by Sensei Jeff of the Red Dragon dojo in Merrick, and more.

The Robbie Levine Foundation provided CPR/AED training. Led by Merrick school board member Jill Levine, the foundation funds education of these lifesaving skills. The foundation also provides this training to students during physical education classes throughout the school year.

“We were able to train 252 staff members in one day,” Caballero noted. “That’s a tremendous number.”

Stop the Bleed training sessions aim to prepare individuals to save lives if someone nearby is severely bleeding.This preparation is being done by teaching people how to learn three quick actions to control serious bleeding.Sloan Yoselowitz and Scott Silvers of Nassau University Medical Center provided Stop the Bleed training.

John F. Kennedy High School junior Sydney Brewer utilized her Leadership II project to fund Stop the Bleed kits for each classroom. She raised $3,000 to fund the effort.The second section of a three-part course, Leadership II challenges students to plan and execute a civic project.

“I am the same age as the students of the Sandy Hook shooting, and I remember the exact day the shooting happened,” said Brewer. “Immediately, I know something had to be done. Now, as a junior, I decided to act.”

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 4/24/2023

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