Background
This Code Blue Ask the Experts article will explain how Code Blue customers can expand the value of their Help Point® blue light towers, emergency phones, and call buttons to deliver a more robust communications and Active Presence® solutions in preparation for this fall semester and amid heightened risks in this election year. Active Presence solutions from Code Blue help property owners detect unsafe conditions and deploy appropriate responses.
Code Blue is ready to help with questions regarding our solutions. No one should feel like they are on an island. Together, we are a community dedicated to assisting public safety and saving lives.
Perfect Timing to Enhance Safety and Security
Quoting excerpts from a recent article from Inside Higher Ed:
“Colleges Eye Rule Changes in the Wake of Spring Protests”
“…Heightened student protests that erupted in April—seem likely to continue in some form when the fall semester arrives, bringing students and their political concerns back to campus. This time, however, colleges will have the benefit of summer break to prepare and plan…”
“Compounding the potential headache for administrators is the 2024 election, in which Democratic President Joe Biden is taking on former Republican President Donald Trump in a repeat matchup that has left many young voters disillusioned.”
Managing Protests and Gatherings
There are numerous types of gatherings that could trigger or alert campus property owners and call centers to take action. Typically, gatherings fall into four categories – authorized and civil, authorized and unruly, unauthorized and civil, and unauthorized and unruly. All of these scenarios should have a response and preparedness plan in order to minimize risks, injuries, liabilities, or worse, loss of life.
Many states are cracking down on unauthorized large gatherings. They are considered illegal and often result in public drinking, vandalism, drug use, and fights. They typically take place late at night and grow quickly with the power of social media to promote them. Public safety officials may not know such gatherings are happening until the crowds have become large and criminal activity occurs. With limited staff and resources, these sorts of gatherings are an increasing challenge to law enforcement.
Existing Code Blue Customers have Great Options to Enable Wider Communications Capabilities – They can be Implemented Now
Our Help Points® and Nebula Cloud can be added or expanded to improve safety and security communications, detect unauthorized gatherings in formative stages, prevent crime, deter illegal gatherings, and protect property.
Select Blue Alert® Applications to Help Address Campus Protests and Gatherings
Blue Alert Connect & Monitor – A highly versatile emergency management platform for your blue light phone network, the Blue Alert Connect (PBX) and Blue Alert Monitor (diagnostics & reporting) offer unique real-time monitoring and provisioning options. It also provides connections to Private Branch Exchange (PBX), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Internet (ISP) networks, and third-party security platforms. Blue Alert Connect & Monitor are delivered using Code Blue’s ToolVox XS server (appliance), ToolVox XV (VM software), and/or Nebula (cloud-hosted platform). Learn more.
Available Options for Blue Alert Connect & Monitor:
- Advanced Paging License
- FXS/VoIP Gateways for analog devices
- Design assistance and support
Blue Alert Motion software offers a secure video-verification and event-based recording solution. It also provides cloud-based storage for playback (up to 90 days) and download capabilities, built on world leading streaming and storage technologies. Learn more.
The Nebula Cloud and Blue Alert Applications Suite – At full-scale implementation, Blue Alert software applications operate with Nebula Cloud to enable wider campus communications, human engagement, open communications technology utilization, routing to proper responders, actual responses, real-time diagnostics monitoring, analytics, and automation of integrated systems or devices. See our Ask the Experts article about Nebula Cloud.
More Products and Capabilities to Consider for Managing Protests and Large Gatherings
QR code graphics/plaques can provide a link to instructions (directions, contact info, etc.).
API (Application Programming Interfaces) integrations or standard contact closures can be used to trigger a call and notify someone when there is unauthorized access to buildings, private areas, parking garages, etc., and video analytics using 3rd party cameras (faceplate and/or overhead camera mounts).
Audio paging and mass notifications devices can be added to Help Point towers; and strobe lights and light beacons will surely enhance situational awareness and campus communications.
The Big Picture
The Bottom Line
Code Blue customers can expand the value of their Help Point® blue light towers, emergency phones, and call buttons to deliver a more robust communications and Active Presence solution in preparation for this fall semester and heightened risks in this election year.
Taking preparedness measures right NOW, Public Safety or Owners can be proactive to mitigate situations. In turn, through general communication and awareness of expanded capabilities on campus a robust sense of safety can help keep the peace by making participants feel they are in a safe environment.
We hope this article helped you better understand opportunities to focus on in preparing your campus for the fall semester, especially in an election year.
Please consider contacting Code Blue for help (https://codeblue.com/contact) to make
your Code Blue Solutions come to life!