Is Your Campus Prepared for a Safe Reopen?

Temporary solution became more permanent with discovery of weekly flaws

• By Gary Strahan
• February 01, 2021

With more than 100,000 schools closing in the United States, Americans recognize the need for safer learning environments. History has proven that closing schools can result in a devastating impact on children's futures.

Online learning was the initial solution to continuing critical education. Virtual classrooms removed the risk of infection by completely removing students and educators. This temporary solution became more permanent with flaws surfacing week after week. More than 4 million students lacked consistent access to a computer while 3.7 million lacked internet access. This virtual learning solution has not been adequate for all students.

Millions of students remain at home while school superintendents work to create a safer learning environment. Rules and regulations update and change to best serve the needs of the community. Whether in a K-12 school or a university campus, the safety and health of students and staff are of utmost importance.

Campuses are taking precautionary measures requiring socially-distanced classrooms, personal protective equipment and frequent sanitization. Temperature screening on campuses limits the risk of contamination within these environments. With these precautionary measures, infrared technology provides schools with a frontline defense and helps return peace of mind.

Temperature Screening

The CDC recommends that a person should stay home when appropriate. This means that students and employees who are sick should remain at home to monitor their health. Unfortunately, it is not always clear when persons are sick or have come into contact with a COVID-19 carrier.

With hands-on learning interrupted, infrared experts standardize tools for a safer school reopening. Temperature screening has become a turnkey solution for safer learning environments. High accuracy infrared cameras screen temperatures of individuals as they enter a building. This front door checkpoint helps limit unknown contamination from entering campuses. Infrared cameras can rapidly detect elevated body temperature in mere seconds. This keeps drop-off lines efficient, and school events safer.

Social distancing, proper personal protective equipment, and frequent sanitization all help in limiting infection. In addition to this, high accuracy temperature screening solutions build in a protective barrier at school entrances. Schools can slow the spread from reaching the classroom with infrared technology.

Infrared Technology

High-grade temperature screening equipment consists of three components: an infrared camera, a temperature reference device, and a computer or screen. Systems using these three components lead to high accuracy temperature detection. The thermal camera is considered the “brains” of the operation. While the temperature reference is put in place to achieve world-leading thermal detection accuracy, a screen provides a simple way to detect an elevated temperature. The “Green Dot” tells your team there is no elevated temperature, and the “Red Dot” indicates the device has detected an elevated temperature.

Every school has different circumstances. Infrared Cameras, Inc. (ICI) cultivates many solutions to fit the new challenges students, faculty, and parents face. Knowing each school may face complex challenges, they create systems that seamlessly integrate and improve school and university’s safety procedures. Implemented in schools across the nation, ICI’s priority is to help create a safer in-person environment. The founder of a Loudoun County private school, Deep Sran, has already implemented infrared technology in his school. He believes Loudoun “is the safest school building in the country right now.”

Custom for Learning Environments

ICI's thermography experts prioritize the unique and extensive problems schools and universities face. From staffentrances to cafeteria lines, they tailor their solutions to be versatile, fitting wherever needed. Educators install temperature screening solutions in a variety of locations. They integrate seamlessly into existing workflows removing excess equipment.

ICI commits itself to develop features to improve circumstances. Available features include: • Easy to understand pass/fail technology • Centralized monitoring • Dual Vision Cameras • Light and sound alerts • Email/Text notifications • Printed Badge • Access Control Card • Customizable functions

Attended solutions are ideal for high tra c areas. With a TSA style check-in at schools, temperatures are rapidly detected. This keeps lines moving and entrances clear. Teachers can get back to teaching and students can get back to learning with this technology.

Self-service kiosks can streamline low traffic entrance points. These kiosks require no operator and are fully self-service. This is the premier system for employee entrances and seamlessly integrates with current workflows. The badging and access control features of this system help restrict access to select individuals.

Each school has a different set of needs. ICI works collaboratively to help schools and universities prepare for a safer school year.

Slow the Spread at the Door

The health and safety of students and staff remain a top priority as schools reopen. Installing health precautions in schools helps return students and educators to hands-on learning. These tools can slow the spread of exposure, creating a safer learning environment.

Reach out here for more guidance and information.

Thermography Experts

Innovating pandemic solutions since 1995, Infrared Cameras, Inc. leads in the field of thermography. Highly accurate thermal cameras mean the safest and most reliable temperature screening solutions on the market today. Based in Beaumont Texas, Infrared Cameras, Inc. specializes in calibrating medical-grade equipment with robust features.

ICI’s customer support is continuous. From product selection to post-purchase training, thermography experts are there every step of the way. They offer annual calibration to ensure the highest accuracy. Helping industries across the country, this veteran- owned business customizes each camera for success. ICI develops competitively priced and accessible infrared products amongst this pandemic.

When it comes to the health and safety of your students and faculty there’s no room for error. Learn how ICI’s school temperature screening systems prepare you for a safer reopen.

This article originally appeared in the January February 2021 issue of Campus Security Today.