One of the key benefits of Help Points® is they empower individuals to report suspicious activity and help decrease violent crime and threatening behavior. By providing students with direct access to first responders, for example, the conversation surrounding potentially dangerous scenarios can be elevated on university and college campuses.
Unfortunately, a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln indicates that many undergraduates are not reporting suspicious or threatening situations. According to an article published by The Lincoln Journal Star, students did not report 87 percent of pathway behaviors, including stalking, making violent statements or acquiring weapons. University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student Brandon Hollister said he’s focused on getting people to report behaviors:
“Reporting is often the first step in prevention of these attacks. As so much attention has focused upon the extreme behavior, such as shootings, it is important to know that such behaviors have warning signs.”
One of the advantages of emergency communication solutions, like those offered by Code Blue, is their ability to not only deter potential criminal activity from even taking place, but they also provide a means for engagement with law enforcement officials. That way, people can anonymously report suspicious individuals and activity and perhaps prevent a potentially dangerous situation from occurring or escalating.
Unfortunately, as a multitude of headlines have taught us, schools are not immune to tragic events. Whether it’s an active shooter or a fire in a dorm, it’s vital to give everyone on campus a means to report emergency situations and encourage them to request assistance when it’s needed.
To learn more about how Code Blue products can increase safety and security in college and university settings, click here.