Winning Middle School Safety Tips
The following are the winning middle school safety tips. All winners will receive a copy of Inquiring Safely: A Guide for Middle School Teachers. Thank you to everyone who submitted entries.
Eddie Edenfield, Montgomery Middle School, Skillman, N.J.:
When receiving a kit, go over all ingredients thoroughly. I had a student this year who was deathly allergic to peanut products. I went over the list of materials with the student's mother at the beginning of the school year for each lab in each kit we use. It was a great relief to the student's parents and the student to not have to question whether any materials or products contained peanut oil, or nut by-products during our science classes.
Carole Henry, Gus Garcia Middle School, San Antonio, Tex.:
Once a week, after flushing the eye wash stations in our labs, I take a clean gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxide and wipe of the nozzles. In our high humidity environment, it is important to keep the mold growth down. I do not recommend bleach because it seems to etch the plastic nozzles of the eye wash.
Carol Hix, Dillingham Intermediate School, Sherman, Tex.:
When working with inexperienced students on dissections, I have found the perfect cutting tool! I purchased a set of small seam rippers commonly used for sewing. It has a sharp point to start a cut and guide the cutting blade, and the cutting blade is not exposed to cut fingers. It sure reduced my stress level in the classroom and took nothing away from the students’ experience!
Mary Poarch, San Antonio, Tex.:
In addition to verbal safety instructions, I always write them on the lab paper itself.
Because I usually retype/rewrite the labs I do, it's easy to put a textbox
in at the top with the safety notes. I also include a graphic or clipart to
visually signal the students to look at the safety issue For an example, click
here:
http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-07/poarch.htm
Angie Tillman, Brooks County Middle School, Tillman, Ga.:
1. Follow all lab instructions.
2. Pay attention to surroundings.
3. Do not horseplay.
4. Notify teacher of any accident or spills.
5. Never test by tasting.
6. Wear goggles when dealing with chemicals and flames.
7. Tilt test tube away from bodies when heating.
8. Tie hair back and do not wear loose clothing.
9. Use safety gloves and tongs to pick up hot glassware.
10. Know standard safety symbols.
11. THINK and BE AWARE.