CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — (Marketwire) — 01/24/13 — today announced that its system is now available to K-12 schools as a subscription service. Instead of purchasing the SARA software and related equipment as a capital expense, elementary and secondary schools can pay for emergency alerting as an operating expense.
“We-re truly saddened by the disturbing trend of violence at schools, and we want to help by making situational awareness more accessible,” explains Mike MacLeod, Status Solutions- president. “With SARA as a subscription service, K-12 schools will be able to better detect and respond to potential threats in real time. If every bank has a panic button, then each of our schools should too because children are more precious than currency.”
With SARA, detailed voice and text alerts are delivered automatically to designated communication devices, such as smartphones, landlines, pagers, emails, computer screens, PA systems, etc. The automated alerting solution includes a wireless sensor network, tools to integrate alarm and communication systems, and mass notification capabilities on one powerful platform.
In a K-12 environment, SARA can be used to power:
Fixed duress with panic buttons installed as permanent fixtures in classrooms, administrative offices, cafeterias, playgrounds, ball fields, etc., to indicate a specific or coded alert. For example, each button on a four-button fixed duress device can be programmed for a different alert: student fight, medical emergency, threat against a teacher, armed intruder, etc.
Mobile duress with panic buttons carried by teachers, administrators and students (e.g., those with special needs, at risk for bullying, or with chronic or short-term health conditions) discreetly carried on their person to indicate that immediate help is required. Responders will know who activated a mobile panic button as well as his/her approximate location thanks to SARA-s Positioning System (SPS), an enhanced alerting capability that employs vector mapping.
Intrusion detection with motion sensors, glass-break detectors and audio sensors to initiate an immediate lockdown or other procedures as determined by a school. If an intruder attempts entry, these sensors pick up that triggering event enabling SARA to alert administrators, security and/or emergency services while simultaneously sending alerts to classroom phones, teachers- and students- smartphones, computer screens, etc., so people receive proper instructions based on a school-s alerting protocols.
Schools also can use SARA to integrate all life safety, security and environmental controls for a wide view of what-s happening in and around a single building or multi-building campus. Random alarms from these disparate systems then will be converted into detailed alerts for delivery to key individuals, select groups or entire populations depending on the situation and its severity. With SARA, the right information goes to the right people on the right devices so the right action can be taken in real time to protect people and property.
Access control systems, fire panels, water sensors and cigarette busters in restrooms, temperature monitors in cafeteria refrigerators, motion detectors at eye-wash stations in science labs, and sensors on HVAC systems and power generators — each can be connected to SARA for centralized monitoring, alerting and reporting. Video surveillance cameras also can be integrated through SARA-s eMessenger, the same technology that pushes pop-up alerts to computer screens and smartphones enables video footage and maps to be included.
“Schools have had difficulty implementing technology because of funding issues and a lack of infrastructure or staff to maintain and upgrade safety and security systems, which need to remain current for optimal performance,” MacLeod says. “We believe SARA as a subscription service confronts these challenges because it provides an easy way to implement situational awareness with automatic upgrades, remote supervision and backup. We really want to help schools be proactive in protecting our kids.”
For more information about SARA as a service for K-12 schools, please contact Status Solutions at 866-846-7272 or .
Contact:
Bunny Tharpe, Corporate Communications
Status Solutions
866-846-7272, x789
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