BSSA COVID-19 Safety Policies, Protocols, Practices and Procedures

Brick Street Safety Academy COVID-19 Safety Policies, Protocols, Practices and Procedures:

Brick Street Safety Academy (BSSA) understands the complexities and limitations that COVID-19 will present in instructing students at our facility. It is the intention of our staff to do our due diligence to not compromise any instructors, students or clients with COVID-19. However, we cannot do this task without the support and participation of our students, clients or the public. We will need all those who enter into our facility to carry out specific tasks in mitigating the risk of COVID-19.

BSSA has devised a COVID-19 safety plan with the inclusion of safety recommendations and guidelines provided by the CDC-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, World Health Organization and the EPA-Environmental Protection Agency.

It is very important to read the following safety policies, protocols, practices and procedures thoroughly to truly grasp the changes that will take place within our facility and to also understand what is required and asked of students/clients in keeping everyone safe during this challenging time.

Brick Street Safety Academy is asking all individuals who enters into our facility to wear a mask. This includes instructors, students, clients or walk-in patrons. Mask wearing inside of our facility is required. If you do not have a mask, a plain surgical mask will be provided to you.

Why is wearing a mask so important?

The CDC and many prominent scientists and physicians have stated that COVID-19 is a severely contagious respiratory virus that could greatly cause major complications or death to those who have underlying or pre-existing health conditions such as: cancer, heart or lung disease, diabetes, weak immunities or autoimmune conditions. COVID-19 can easily spread from person to person when someone doesn’t properly wash their hands, coughs and/or sneezes without covering their mouth. It has also been stated that those who project their voices without a mask such as to scream, yell or to sing could transmit the virus into the air by means of aerosols and/or droplets that could potentially infect others. Lastly, there are individuals who are asymptomatic—carriers of COVID-19. Asymptomatic individuals are not aware that they have the virus. They may not show obvious signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and could unfortunately pass the virus on to other people. Therefore, wearing a mask can greatly reduce direct contact, aerosols or droplets from reaching the mouths, noses and eyes of other people.

The following banner represents the positive benefits of wearing a mask.

Temperatures will be taken. Temperature will be taken with a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer. If the student/client is running a low grade fever with a temperature of 99.3 and higher they will be asked to reschedule their class.

Answer a few COVID-19 social history/safety health screening questions. At the time of registration all persons taking a class will be asked a few simple COVID-19 social history/health screening questions to help determine if the person is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and to decide whether or not if it is safe for that person to be inside of the Academy with others and/or near instructors.

Vaccinations:

Getting vaccinated can truly help things in life get closer to being normal. If you are interested in becoming vaccinated and in need of information concerning vaccines, then check out the following video.

Student Safety Responsibilities/Precaution Tasks:

We ask that all students who are scheduled to take a class or classes to do the following:

STAY AT HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. if you’re feeling ill, have Flu like symptoms, running a temperature or have a chronic cough, please stay home! Do not worry if you’ve paid a deposit or paid the full class tuition we will reschedule your class.  

PRACTICE HEALTHY HAND WASHING HYGIENE. By washing your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20-seconds you can greatly reduce the spread of bacteria, germs and/or certain viruses. If it’s not possible to wash hands with water and soap, use hand sanitizer with a least 60% alcohol.

NO HAND SHAKING. Use your elbow if allowed by others to touch another person in place of a hand shake, high five or hug.

AVOID FACE TOUCHING. It is very important to not touch your face especially your mouth, nose and eyes with the risks of COVID-19. If you have to sneeze or cough, do so in your sleeve or inside the crease of your elbow.

Registration Policies/Procedure:

We ask that all individuals looking to take a class to complete their class registration and process their payment online to avoid any close contact interactions with others and to also help expedite registration before attending their scheduled class.

When a student/client registers online they will first do so by entering in their contact information. Then they will choose their method of payment. Once payment and registration has been received and processed registration will be complete.

Two to three days prior to the student/client’s scheduled class they will receive a reminder of their class and a review of COVID-19 safety practices and protocols. The reminder is sent to help ensure that the student/client is fully aware of what is expected the day of class.

What to expect the day of class:

All individuals are asked to wear a mask—a surgical or cloth mask before reaching the entrance doors of the Academy. Each individual must make sure that their mask is properly covering both their nose and mouth when speaking to the greeter or registration processor. If the student/client does not have a mask to wear, a plain surgical mask will be provided.

Once the student/client enters into the Academy they will be stopped at the first safety checkpoint near the entrance door before stepping further into the Academy. The individual will then be asked a few safety COVID-19 health screening questions to help avoid any problematic health threats or risk of spreading COVID-19 to others in our facility. The person asking the screening questions will either be wearing a plastic face shield and/or a mask or standing behind a plexiglass protection barrier.

Next, the student/client will have their temperature checked with a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer. If the individual is running a low grade fever with a temperature of 99.3 and higher that individual will be asked to reschedule their class.

The student/client will then be directed to the second safety checkpoint to finalize their registration. The person handling the registration will also be standing behind a plexiglass barrier and wearing a mask.

After registration has been completed the student/client will then be directed to their seat. As stated above, students/clients will not sit side-by-side unless individuals are from the same household. Students who are not from the same household will seat about 6-feet apart from one another.

All class materials such as books, loose leaf information, class release forms etc., will be handled with safety gloves and placed at the student/client’s desk.

In Class Safety Training Protocols/Procedures:

When interacting with training aids or props students will be asked to wear safety nitrile gloves. Nitrile gloves are latex and powder free. These gloves will be provided to each student.

Students who are taking the Introduction to Firearms Safety Class and CPL Classes must have their own pair of safety glasses. Prior to COVID-19, safety glasses were on loan to students, sanitized and reused. Due to all the uncertainties with COVID-19 it is best that students have their own pair of safety glasses.

Students will no longer stand next to one another to train with plastic or real firearms, laser guns or safety props. Students will now have to stand six or more feet apart or come up individually to demonstrate proficiency with training aids.

Academy disinfecting cleaning practices:

Prior to COVID-19, BSSA has always taken the necessary precautions in keeping our Academy cleaned and disinfected for our staff, students and clients. We will continue to clean rigorously with the following sanitation products and add touchless equipment to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Things that we are using and adding to our Academy:

EPA approved disinfectant sprays such as Lysol will be used to help minimize the risk and spread of bacteria, germs and viruses within the Academy.

EPA approved bleach products filled in spray bottles will be used to clean surfaces, such as: counters, tables, chairs, door knobs, handles, wall light fixtures etc., periodically

No contact foam soap hand dispenser is available in the restroom.

Touchless faucet in the main restroom.

Hand sanitizer will be readily available for constant use.

A HEPA filter purifier unit will be running during class.

Floor mats will be cleaned thoroughly before, during and after each self-defense class. 

Depending on the class and time structure, breaks will be permitted. During such breaks, sanitation of the classroom and restrooms will be performed. We asked that students abide by the social distancing guidelines and properly wash hands when on break. Watch the following video to see why washing your hands is so important.

Instructors Safety Training Procedure:

Instructors will do their due diligence to minimize the risks of COVID-19 by performing the following tasks:

Safety instruction is important and taking very seriously at our Academy. We recognize that there will be times when up-close instruction may be necessary to avoid inadequate training. Social distancing may present a challenge in making corrections or demonstrating proper form. Our instructors will not allow any student to leave away from their class with improper training; especially, when it comes to firearms training. If an instructor has to be closer than 6-feet to a student/client to demonstrate proper technique, the instructor will alert the individual of this action. The student has the right to deny such action if they feel uncomfortable. If the student approves this action, the safety instructor will take special precautions before approaching the student. The instructor will make sure that they are properly wearing Personal Protection Equipment or using a combination of PPE such as placing on a plastic face shield and wearing a mask and/or put on extended safety gloves and wear safety elbow to wrist plastic sleeves for protection if needed. The instructor(s) will not stand next to a student or a client for any length of time without wearing proper safety PPE gear.

Instructors will keep six or more feet away when instructing class. If an instructor has to instruct class without a mask they will do so about 8-10ft., away with a microphone if needed or stand behind a plexiglass barrier.

When passing out props Instructors will do so with gloves and masks. Students will be asked to wear gloves and use hand sanitizer after touching item(s).

Additional safety steps that we are taking to help protect our self-defense students:

All the safety policies, procedures, practices and protocols mentioned above will also apply to any and all students that participate in a self-defense class.

Due to COVID-19, our staff has made significant changes in the way that we will conduct our self-defense classes. We definitely understand the concerns of being in close contact with others. We recognize that social distancing is very important. However, in a self-defense class there will times when a student may need to be up-close to the instructor in order to adequately view or execute proper techniques. As stated earlier, instructors will not allow students to leave away from class without proper training. Our instructors will do their part to mitigate possible COVID-19 exposure by taking the necessary precautions to keep students and instructors safe. We will also make sure that instructors as well as students are properly screened and wearing proper PPE in class. Bare skin-to-skin contact such as: hand to hand, wrist grabbing, neck, face etc., will not be permitted while COVID-19 is still a serious health threat. Personal protection equipment will be used in demonstrating certain techniques.

There will only be 6 8 students allowed per class until further notice.

The length of some self-defense classes will be shortened due to COVID-19 until further notice.

Students and the instructors will wear a mask in class. Wearing a mask is non-negotiable. If the instructor for some reason has to instruct class without a mask, the instructor will do so eight-ten feet or more away from students with use of a microphone if necessary or stand behind a plexiglass barrier.

If needed, breaks will be permitted to step outside to take a break from wearing the mask. Social distancing will be strongly enforced.

Students will not sit side-by-side in class unless they are from the same household. Students will sit 6-8 feet apart from one another.

Sections on the training mats will be visibly marked or sectioned out to help students remain six-feet apart from other students.

Students will wear certain safety gear when working on certain techniques.

Instructors may wear a face shield and any other protective gear when demonstrating a specific technique with a student and students will also wear certain PPE for added protection.

When interacting with training aids or props students will be asked to wear safety nitrile gloves. Nitrile gloves are latex and powder free. These gloves will be provided to each student.

Further safety suggestions for students/clients to perform when exiting class:

Once a student/client has completed their class and exits the facility they are asked to properly discard gloves and/or masks (if masks are disposable) in a container that will be placed outside of the exit door to be thrown away. The purpose of this action is to avoid potential spreading bacteria, germs and the possibility of COVID-19 to the student/client’s face or to other surfaces in their vehicle. Properly disposing gloves will also help reduce littering– leaving gloves exposed out on the pavement or parking lot. It is important to discard gloves properly without possibly infecting others.

After discarding gloves we suggest the use of hand sanitizer before touching the doors of your vehicle, getting inside of your vehicle to touch the steering wheel, seat belt etc…

If possible, we suggest wiping down your face with a moist facial wipe or with a wet paper towel before you drive away. Again, COVID-19 is not visible and it is contractible through the eyes, mouth and nose. Unknowingly, you may touch parts of your face or your mask and could potentially contaminate other things around you. So, take a moment to wipe down your face until you arrive home to clean your face properly with soap and water. Be mindful that the less exposure of bacteria and germs around your eyes, mouth and nose the better. Lastly, make sure to dispose of the wipe as soon as possible. Review the Do’s and Don’ts of Wearing Masks and Gloves video if you have not done so. Click here.

We advise students/clients to make sure to properly clean their glasses after leaving away from class. It has been stated that possible droplets from COVID-19 can accumulate on your glasses without you knowing it or seeing it. Disinfect your glasses thoroughly and gently.

At times students will forget that they have gloves on in class or may fail to sanitize their hands regularly. Students may touch their cellular/mobile phones and possibly contaminate it. It is important to wipe down your cellular/mobile phone with the proper cleaning disinfectant. If there is any exposure of COVID-19 on the phone it could spread to other surfaces, to the face or to other people. Refer to your cellular/mobile phone manual before placing any cleaner on it.

We suggest that after completing your class that you go straight home. Do not travel to any other location until you have changed out of your clothes. Although social/health screening questions are asked before class, keep in mind that we cannot strap everyone to a lie detector test. We have no way of knowing if a person is asymptomatic or not. We can only go by what an individual tells us during the screening process. It is our hope that everyone is being truthful with their responses. Therefore, we do not want you or our instructors to take any chances. Change your clothes and wash them as soon as possible.

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Content on this page is subject to change without any prior notice. Therefore visit this page periodically for updates or any current changes.

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COVID-19 Safety Resources:

For additional or up-to-date information concerning the Coronavirus. Feel free to check out the following websites:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
World Health Organization
EPA-Environmental Protection Agency

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Thank you for your time as well as your support and willingness to help keep our Academy and the community safe!