Students defend ‘Uniform Emergency Code’ proposal in House.

Students from José González Ruiz School in Aguada appeared in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives on Tuesday to defend a proposal to establish a “Uniform Emergency Code System” in island schools.

By THE STAR STAFF

Students from José González Ruiz School in Aguada appeared Tuesday before the Education Committee in the island House of Representatives to defend a proposal contained in House Bill 1214 to establish a “Uniform Emergency Code System” in Puerto Rico’s schools.

The measure was filed by Rep. Odalys González González after a proposal developed by teacher Diane Negrón Flores and her students, as part of an educational and investigative process on school safety and emergency management.

During the public hearing, students gave a presentation in support of the measure and noted that different schools currently use different methods to transmit emergency alerts, including bells, whistles and sound systems, which can cause confusion among students, school staff and visitors.

As part of the proposal, the students recommended the creation of a uniform system of color codes and pictograms for situations such as fires, medical emergencies, natural disasters, threats of violence and evacuations, among other emergencies.

The measure also proposes that schools have visible posters, periodic drills and training processes aimed at students, teachers, school staff and communities.

“This bill was born from a classroom and today these students had the opportunity to present and defend their proposal in the House of Representatives,” González said. “Beyond the legislative process, this shows that our students do have the ability to identify problems, investigate and propose real solutions for Puerto Rico.”

In their presentation to the committee, the students noted that a uniform system would create a common emergency language in all schools, strengthening response capacity and reducing confusion during critical situations.

“If universal codes protect lives in hospitals, they must also protect children in schools,” the students stated during the public hearing.

The initiative is part of an educational process developed through workshops, research, educational tours and legislative experiences aimed at promoting critical thinking, citizen participation and student leadership from an early age