School Safety Through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): CPTED School Safety

The History Of The Use Of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (Cpted) To Address School Related Violence

It is important to understand how significant the issue of safety has been and continues to be in all aspects of life to people in general. Realistically, both safety and security have always been an issue since the beginning of time. A review of history shows that for more than a century, public health practitioners have modified the environment to prevent disease and injury with a very good amount of success. As an example, a look back to the mid-1850s shows that at that particular time there was a physician by the name of Dr. John Snow who removed the pump handle from a contaminated well in London, England to stop a deadly cholera outbreak. This action saved many lives and it was not a medical invention or discover of a vaccine; it was however, an action of the changing of the environmental design of an item which was needed for use to obtain water which all life needs for subsistence and existence (Crowe, 2000). A look and examination into a more recent and more modern time shows another environmental change or modification which has saved lives and has actually become law, which involves such items as the seat belt and airbags which are required to be in all vehicles. Other environmental modifications, such as sidewalks and community parks, have increased physical activity while helping to reduce obesity and safety of pedestrians walking to and from locations (Crowe, 2000).