AT&T, a telecommunications company, and FirstNet, its nationwide wireless broadband communications platform for first responders, introduce FirstNet Certified™ Intrado Safety Shield.
Powered by FirstNet, Intrado, and AT&T ESInet, the Safety Shield solution offers a wearable panic button for teachers and administrators to reduce emergency response time by directly connecting with 9-1-1 while simultaneously and silently notifying campus-wide personnel via haptic vibration, says the press release. Since FirstNet covers 250,000+ more square miles than commercial networks, says AT&T, its benefits extend beyond school grounds to support emergencies during field trips, transportation, and athletic and other events that occur off-campus.
“More first responders trust FirstNet to reliably communicate because of the meaningful difference it’s making in how they protect their communities, and now we’re delivering these critical benefits to protect our children,” Jim Bugel, president of the FirstNet program at AT&T, said in a statement. “The new school safety solution is a game-changer for how districts can protect students and teachers, while also better equipping the first responders that serve them. With just a push of a button, schools can reach 9-1-1 faster than ever. And as America’s public safety partner, we’ll continue to advance public safety’s critical communications to stay mission ready no matter the threat.”
The Intrado Safety Shield portal provides key stakeholders with a single operational view for all emergency response activities across the district, according to the release. Offering real-time and automated mass notifications, the portal is said to unite disparate systems and processes to help communicate critical information.
“Intrado and AT&T share a common commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of our communities, and especially of our students, school staff and the surrounding communities, and we remain dedicated to investing in technology that aligns with state and federal regulations, in order to safeguard their security,” said Jeff Robertson, CEO of Intrado Life & Safety, a provider of 9-1-1 technology solutions.
The app also includes secure two-way faculty chat, digitized emergency response plans, role-specific response checklists, and integration with school information systems to account for all children in an emergency and reunite students with their families.
AT&T notes traditional panic buttons notify a preset individual or individuals who then contacts 9-1-1, whereas the new solution integrates directly with 9-1-1 call centers. It automatically works in any 9-1-1 center without adding new equipment or processes, the company says, eliminating the need for 9-1-1 call takers to transcribe the caller’s information by sending pre-set, customized information that can then go directly to first responders.
For more information about FirstNet and its offerings, visit firstnet.com.
