Critical Communication & Collaboration Blog
Featured Content
Tips for Building a Strong Business Continuity Plan
When an unexpected emergency occurs, we rarely get enough advance notice that it will happen, if any notice at all. That’s why a business continuity plan is essential for your organization. A business continuity plan outlines your organization’s procedures and policies to follow in the event of an emergency to improve its response and recovery.
How Location Data Can Help Keep Your People Safe
Location-based alerts then use that data to determine the recipients of said alerts. For example, if a wildfire breaks out near your office building, you may get an emergency weather alert because you fall within a specific radius of the event.
8 Important Features to Look for in an Emergency Notification System
While many emergency notification systems are known for sending and receiving messages through multiple platforms, more capabilities are needed to protect your people. That’s why it’s important to consider a broader range of communication and collaboration features when choosing an emergency notification system for your business.
Alyssa’s Law Has Passed in New York, Now What?
Alyssa’s Law requires schools to consider the use of silent panic alarm systems when conducting review and development of their school safety plans.
Get to Know our CTO: 10 Questions with Brett Marceau
Brett Marceau is responsible for Rave’s development, quality assurance, and technical operations teams.
How to Create an Emergency Communication Plan
Creating an emergency communication plan can prepare your organization to respond to the unexpected. An emergency communication plan can minimize impact to people’s health and safety, and also help your team recover more quickly.
Rave Summit Training Looks at the Different Ways Technology Can Influence and Impact Safety
Summit kicks off with product training so that attendees can better understand the various Rave technology offerings and capabilities at their disposal.
Exploring Community Policing
Community policing takes the sole responsibility of community safety from just law enforcement and places it into the hands of community members who know their neighborhoods better than anyone else. The aim is to improve not only the safety but the happiness of the community.
Why You Should Attend Rave Summit
If you haven’t heard by now, Rave’s Annual Summit will be taking place virtually from September 27-29, 2022. Rave Summit will deliver every element of a live event in an online environment with major product announcements and training, best
988: How We Got Here and What Comes Next
After years of efforts from mental health advocates, the official launch of the nation’s mental health hotline, 988, is set to launch on July 16th.
4 Signs You Need a Mass Notification System for Internal Communications
This is where a mass notification system can be used for more than just emergencies. A mass notification system ensures that all employees receive and respond to both critical and non-emergency messages.
Effectively Managing Active Shooter Incidents and Other Significant Events Requires a Holistic Approach with End-to-End Solutions
Recently, a Texas investigative committee released their preliminary report on the Uvalde, Texas school shooting that left 21 dead in May.
Protecting Employee Safety With Two-Way Communications
Collecting responses from your employees is also an important and necessary part of a comprehensive communications platform. By implementing two-way communications, employers can collect feedback and other important data about emergency planning and preparation.
How to Choose the Right Mass Notification System for You
Choosing the right mass notification for your organization is key. In this blog, we share tips on vetting potential mass notification system vendors and considering your communication needs.
How Corporate Communications Play an Essential Role in Crisis Management
The pandemic has emphasized the importance of strong crisis management skills, including clear and accessible crisis communications, by organizations that provide essential services.
Rave Summit Keynote Speakers Will Offer Different Views on Motivation
“You can’t get to true prevention until you understand who the motivators are and why they are motivated.” Dr. Jillian Peterson, a forensic psychologist and professor of criminology at Hamline University in Minnesota, shared the abov
Disaster Prep Saves Lives During Hurricanes
Mass communication software provides local government officials and emergency responders with resources to save lives during hurricanes.
Tips for Conducting an Effective Tabletop Exercise
This blog will dive deeper into how a tabletop exercise works, the pros and cons, how to plan a tabletop exercise, and how to successfully conduct one with your organization.
Active Shooter Response: Run, Hide, Fight
According to the FBI, the number of active shooter events has increased over the past few years; 2021 showed a 52.5% increase from 2020 and a 96.8% increase from 2017.
Monitoring and Handling Threats to Your Business, Employees & Customers
Now more than ever, business leaders need a reliable and efficient tool to monitor threats against the security and health of their people.
How to Prepare an Emergency Response Plan For Your Organization
Having an emergency response plan means your company is prepared to respond to any emergency, whether it is a natural disaster event, severe weather, pandemic, facility emergency like fires, workplace violence or civil disturbances.
Protect Your Employees From Active Shooter Emergencies
Mass shootings, which can be defined as an attack where 3 or more people are killed by a firearm, are unpredictable, making it difficult for corporate spaces to adequately address gun-related risks, including the best practices for preparing and preventing these attacks.
Preparing Your Business for the Unthinkable
Disaster plans need to cover what might happen whether employees are working remotely, are on-site or are traveling for business. Companies should implement and ensure their employees know how to reach others during and after emergencies and how to continue operations in the wake of an emergency.
Meeting CMS Requirements During Emergencies
One of the best ways to increase resilience within an organization is to create a clear communication and response plan.
Protecting Employee Safety During Corporate Travel
Business travel is a great way to boost professional development, close important deals and offer opportunities to network and grow. However, when safety is left to the wayside and trips are poorly planned, what was once an exciting travel experience quickly begins to comprise safety.
Campus Safety Concerns in 2022
61% of K-12 respondents and 59% of higher education respondents noted that mental health is their number one concern (K-12 schools) and number two (higher education) safety concern for the upcoming school year.
4 Ways to Protect Your Employees from Workplace Violence
Workplace violence has increased from just over 10,000 reported incidents in 2011 to nearly 25,000 in 2019. The most common intentional non-fatal injuries include hitting, kicking, beating and shoving. The most common intentional fatal injuries include intentional shooting by another person.
Invest in Employee Safety and Wellness for Your SMB
SMBs face unique challenges when it comes to employee safety and wellness. The right tools can help you tackle them head-on.
Building a Resilient Workforce
To face challenges successfully — and to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of employees — organizations must have the proper emergency management processes in place.
Return to Work: A Guide to Reopening and Recovering Safely
Is your workspace prepared for your team to return to work? What about your employees? Prepare both to return to work with the tips in this blog.
Improve Earthquake Safety for Communities With Mass Notification Technology
How can your organization plan for earthquakes? Learn how a mass notification system can help you prepare for all types of severe weather events.
Duty of Care: Upholding Your Responsibilities to Your Employees
“Duty of care” doesn’t just apply to lawsuits. It’s a responsibility that corporate employers share, too. Learn about duty of care in this blog.
School Safety Actions That We Can Take Today
For nearly two decades, Rave Mobile Safety has been closely following active shooter incidents and trying to identify how we can help reduce the likelihood or at least mitigate the impact of these events.
Improve Manufacturing Operations with an Efficient Communication System
Manufacturing facilities face unique communication and safety challenges. Learn how one tool can help employers meet those challenges.
Create a Safer Work Environment for Healthcare Professionals
A thriving healthcare workplace begins with creating a safer environment. Learn how to improve workplace safety in your healthcare institution.
How Communication Helps State, Local Governments Prevent and Mitigate Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks against state and local government agencies and departments are increasingly common and becoming more sophisticated and severe. Learn how communication can help.
Empowering Federal Agencies with Secure Communication Tools
Federal agencies require a communication tool that works in emergencies and non-urgent matters. Learn why Rave is the answer in this blog.
The American Rescue Plan’s Final Rule Opens Unprecedented Opportunities for First Responders
Last month, the U.S. Department of Treasury released the final rules for states, counties, and municipalities to use to spend their funds awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Difference Between Business Continuity and Business Resilience
Companies must foster resiliency and create a continuity plan that protects employees and operations. But what’s the difference between continuity and resiliency?
Advanced Planning for Tornadoes Prepares Communities for Last-Minute Danger
Tornadoes can occur anywhere. Because there is little warning, preparing a tactical disaster response is the key to keeping communities safe.
What is AppArmor? A Look at Custom-Branded Safety Apps
AppArmor and Rave provide the most comprehensive solution for mass communications and incident response for your organization.
Meet the Co-Founder of AppArmor: Dave Sinkinson
David Sinkinson is a Co-Founder of AppArmor, which was founded in 2011 and acquired by Rave this year. AppArmor develops custom branded safety apps, emergency notification systems, and internal command and control apps for hundreds of organizations across the globe.
Emergency Communication in Education 2022 Survey Report
Safety is a priority among campus officials, but they find it increasingly challenging to navigate health concerns without the proper tools.
Protect your Employees with Workplace Safety Policies & Protocol
Businesses must create workplace safety policies for their employees. Protect your teams with policies, protocol, and mass notification systems.
Using SMS Alerts for Mass Notification
Mass notification systems are essential for keeping communities informed. Get faster, more efficient notification delivery through SMS opt-ins.
How Communication and Engagement Supports Mental, Behavioral Health and Public Safety
Millions of residents across the country struggle with mental health conditions and/or behavioral health issues every day.
Every Second Counts: A Smart911 FAQ
Did you know that over 80% of calls made to 9-1-1 come from mobile phones?
Keeping Communities Safe During Winter Storms
Keeping communities safe from extreme temperatures and heavy snowfall is made possible by mass alert software.
Get to Know Our CFO: 10 Questions with Bill Price
As Rave’s Chief Financial Officer, Bill is responsible for leading the company’s finance and human resources organization and implementing financial and operational plans to drive growth and extend business decisions that stretch across the company.
Funding Safety Initiatives via Grant Programs
For the first time in a near century, communities have access to more funding mechanisms than ever before to improve emergency preparedness, response, and resiliency.
Protect Your Employees During Any Emergency
Businesses must maintain safe working conditions for their employees. Learn how you can protect yours with a mass notification system.
How Communities Can Prepare for Wildfire Evacuation at a Moment’s Notice
It only takes seconds for a wildfire to turn disastrous. Prepare your community for fast evacuation through mass communication software.
Rave Mobile Safety Celebrates Women’s History Month
As we take a moment in time to recognize the advocacy and strength of the women all around us, consider those women who inspire you.
Meet Rave’s VP of Product Strategy: Matt Serra
Matt Serra is the Vice President of Product Strategy at Rave Mobile Safety. Matt has over 25 years of experience in the technology industry and is a certified Emergency Number Professional.
Get Social with Rave: How to Leverage Social Media for Success
In a world where everyone can be connected with the press of a button, social media is vital to safety and success in your community.
Get a Leg Up on Big Campus Events with The Rave Platform
Pulling off a big event on campus is a dynamic challenge. With the Rave Platform, schools have everything they need in one place to host safe events, communicate with the campus community and strategically adjust plans when required so you are never caught off guard.
Critical Communication and Collaboration is Vital to Your Automotive Dealership Success
A dealership team that works together and communicates with one another helps keep operations running smoothly and effectively.
How Communication Advocates for K–12 Student Mental Health
Some students only receive mental health and emotional support services at their schools.
Rave Aware: Share Situational Intelligence Across Agency Boundaries
Mass notification systems are extremely helpful in notifying employees of an emergency.
What School Safety Looks Like in 2022
Improving student safety engagement is a goal that’s best addressed from multiple angles.
Meet Rave’s VP of Finance: Meghan Beck
Meghan Beck is the Vp of Finance at Rave Mobile Safety. She is responsible for all the accounting and financial operations at the company, including technical accounting, internal controls, financial reporting & compliance.
How to Leverage Rave911 Suite and Smart911 for Safety in your Community
Do you know how to use Rave911 Suite and Smart911 to maximize safety in your community?
What’s New with the Rave Platform?
Learn how the Rave Platform can help your organization maximize safety and efficiency.
Meet Rave’s SVP of Customer Success: Noah Reiter
Noah Reiter, MPA, is the Senior Vice President of Customer Success for Rave Mobile Safety, where his team is responsible for ensuring customer engagement with Rave's solutions and, ultimately, their ability to impact emergency response, communications and safety through technology.
A Rave Year in Review
2021 was a year filled with many obstacles. Learn how we did all we can at Rave Mobile Safety to maximize safety in a 2021 year wrap up.
Meet Rave’s VP of Design Strategy: Rand Refrigeri
As Rave's VP of Design Strategy, Rand lives by the belief that good design can solve almost any problem, and that its execution taps the focuses of art, human factors, digital psychology, ergonomics and the scientific method.
Rave Mobile Safety Healthcare Summit Recap
Healthcare facilities were impacted the worst during the pandemic.
Get to Know our CRO: 10 Questions with Hope McIntosh
Hope McIntosh has amassed a 20+ year career in the technology sector, having positions and consulting projects that have taken her across the globe and within the 50 states.
Rave Mobile Safety Corporate Summit Recap
Businesses across the country faced numerous struggles over the past year and a half due to the Coronavirus.
Meet Rave’s Head of People: Jennifer Taylor (JT)
Jennifer Taylor joined Rave in November 2021 as the Head of People Operations. Prior to joining Rave, Jennifer (JT) held leadership roles in both talent and human resources for companies like RSM, NantHealth, and SQA Group. JT is an experienced and s
What is a Rave SmartSave Award?
Thousands of first responders, emergency managers, 9-1-1, and federal, state and local agencies – as well as schools, universities, hospitals, and businesses – all rely on Rave. Learn how you can submit your Rave SmartSave story.
Securing Soft Targets with the Help of Mass Notification Systems
Soft targets have open environments likely with multiple access points, encouraging people to come and go freely.
Rave Mobile Safety Higher Education Summit Recap
Rave Summit hosted numerous Higher Education industry leaders and attendees were able to hear about how their peers are managing during this unprecedented time.
Rave Mobile Safety K-12 Summit Recap
Rave Summit hosted numerous K-12 industry leaders and attendees were able to hear about how their peers are managing during this unprecedented time.
5 Ways You Didn’t Know How to Alert Employees in an Emergency
Mass notification systems are extremely helpful in notifying employees of an emergency.
Improving Student Safety Engagement: Where to Start
Improving student safety engagement is a goal that’s best addressed from multiple angles.
K-12 School Emergency Preparedness: From the Inside Out
Superintendents, principals, school resource officers, teachers, counselors, nurses and administrative staff in over 13,000 school districts have returned to the classroom after almost 18 months of hybrid or remote learning. Staff member
What Happened at Rave Summit 2021?
This year, we hosted our annual Rave Summit virtually. Critical communications and safety professionals across all industries came together to share innovative strategies for keeping their communities, campuses and
Achieve Workplace Safety Goals with Critical HR Communications
Defined policies, situational awareness, and efficient employee communication are core to HR leadership’s ability to create a safe and productive working environment; however, it can be challenging to deliver on employee expectations of safety and
How Staffing Models in Healthcare Have Changed due to the COVID-19 Crisis
Over the past decade, staffing models in healthcare have most often been designed to balance the value-driven requirements of the Affordable Care Act with a nationwide shortage of medical personnel. At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, staffing model
3 Ways to Simplify Safety Incident Management in Healthcare
Many different types of safety incident occur in healthcare environments – from assaults on staff to supply chain shortages to severe weather emergencies. Each type of safety incident can have different outcomes depending on how it is managed; and
Rave Notifier for Desktop: What Should You Know and How Can it Help?
Right now, having a reliable mass communication system is crucial. In this post, we will provide an all-encompassing rundown of Rave Notifier for Desktop and tell you how you can use it to your advantage.
September is Attendance Awareness Month for K-12 Schools
Initially celebrated in 2013, Attendance Awareness Month has the objective of raising awareness of the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. This year, the event has added importance due to the perception that chronic absente
Why Now is the Time to Review Your Internal Communications
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic – when offices were closed, and employees forced to work remotely – many businesses had to improvise how they communicated internally. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 25% of employees
Rave Collaborate: Strategically Assign Tasks for Critical Incidents
Rave Collaborate helps you track essential tasks, and provide critical communication and collaboration effectively during events.
Returning to Campus: A Peek into What the Fall Semester 2021 May Look Like
Although much has changed this year due to the success of the vaccination rollout, anticipating what the fall semester may look like is still a stab in the dark. Learn about COVID-19 mitigation strategies colleges and universities are using to keep students safe as they return to campus.
Resolving the Issue of Communicating Campus Evacuation Plans during a Pandemic
Communicating campus evacuation plans is never straightforward for colleges and universities. Personal safety apps can store evacuation plans, provide directories for emergency contacts and help locate staff or students who have no arrived at an evacuation station.
What Happens When Extreme Heat Collides with a Pandemic?
The recent extreme heat warnings across the south and south-west of the country brought back memories of last summer when triple-digit temperatures in many locations put increased stress on public health agencies and healthcare systems already under
Will People Still Mask Up Following the CDC’s Revised Guidance?
The CDC published new guidance relating to COVID-19 mitigation strategies for fully vaccinated people. As communities and businesses return to safe operation there is confusion about mask requirements for vaccinated vs unvaccinated individuals.
Will the K-12 Education System be Reinvented Following COVID-19?
K-12 school district communication issues have the potential to jeopardize plans to reopen schools safely for the fall 2021 semester. Will the K-12 education system be reinvented following COVID-19?
Support a Smooth Return to the Workplace with Rave Business Safety Solutions
There is still a lot of uncertainty about when many businesses will welcome employees back to the workplace. Decisions about when to welcome employees back seem to be driven by the location of the business, the nature of its operations, and individual employers' preferences.
How to Best Prepare Students for a Return to Campus Life
There are still multiple unknowns about how the fall semester will pan out in the country’s colleges and universities. Will student vaccinations be mandated? Will the option exist to take classes remotely? Will it be necessary to wear a mask on
7 Questions to Ask about the Rave Panic Button
The Rave Panic Button is a smartphone app that replaces physical and often inaccessible wall-mounted panic buttons. Get answers to the 7 most common questions about the app and how it integrates with 9-1-1 emergency responders and public safety.
COVID: Rave Year in Review
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people suffered bereavements, lost their jobs, and/or experienced financial difficulties. Although the situation is improving, millions more people may yet be impacted by the consequences of the pandemic due to the mental health crisis sweeping America.
Rave Mobile Safety’s Federal Communication and Collaboration Solution
Rave Mobile Safety's critical communication and collaboration platform provides federal agencies with every tool they need to prepare for and support an effective response to any incident. Learn about features of the platform designed to reduce response times by getting the right message to the right people at the right time.
These are the Colleges and Universities Requiring Students to Vax Before Returning
The issue of whether or not it is okay to ask students about their vaccination status is still fluid. Several states still have legislation under consideration, and the uncertainty of whether a college or university will be able to enforce a full vaccination policy has resulted in many putting their policy announcements on hold.
Temporary Opt-In for Summer Camp Programs
The temporary opt-in capability of the Rave Platform is a valuable asset for all organizations that welcome visitors to their facilities as it ensures those who would not normally be included in the organization's messaging database can receive critical or informative communications.
Severe Weather Preparedness: How to Keep Your Community Safe When Seconds Matter
Severe weather events and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, wildfires and droughts, are wreaking havoc across every part of the U.S. How do you keep your community safe when seconds matter?
The Nature of 911 EMS Response is Changing due to ET3
CMS launched the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) program that aims to lower costs by reducing avoidable 911 ambulance transports to emergency departments and unnecessary hospitalizations following 911 transports.
Maintaining a Campus Culture in Potentially Fluid Circumstances
Campus culture is an integral part of student life. Not only can it be a great deal of fun, but also a powerful source of communal socialization through which students are exposed to peer and societal norms that help them better understand different
What to Expect at Rave Summit
The past year has been a whirlwind of unpredictable events for organizations everywhere. Public safety, campus safety, emergency management and corporate security are facing an increasing number of highly complex incidents due to COVID-19 recove
How Massachusetts New Campus Safety Act Could Revolutionize How Sexual Violence against Students Is Reported
In January 2021, Massachusetts’ Governor Charlie Baker signed the state’s new Campus Safety Act into law. The Act addresses sexual violence on college and university campuses and includes measures to prevent, report, and respond to sexual
Post-Pandemic Summer Vacations are Coming. How to Prep Your Community
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, there is increased demand for vacation and travel. Effective community messaging is key to public health safety and COVID-19 mitigation. Learn how mass notification platforms can aid public safety agencies as businesses and communities reopen.
Customer Story: How Louisiana DCFS uses Rave for SNAP Communications
The Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services adopted the Rave platform in order to take advantage of its SMS messaging capabilities and reach foster families immediately in times of emergency. Over time, multiple uses were found for the Rave platform.
The Role Communication Plays in Workplace Safety for Nurses
Communication plays an incredibly wide-ranging role in workplace safety for nurses – from ensuring there are safe levels of nurse staffing to alerting nurses to incidents which require the activation of emergency preparedness plans.
What Role Does Campus Safety Play in Mental Health on College Campuses?
Although mental health programs in colleges have been found to reduce violence on campuses, very few colleges have the resources to develop and maintain adequate mental health programs.
WEA & IPAWS – What Are They and What Do They Mean to You?
WEA and IPAWS are two of the most frequently used acronyms in emergency management; and although most emergency managers have a good idea about what the acronyms stand for, not all understand the relationship between the two systems or how they can be integrated with other mass emergency notification systems.
Rave Survey Reveals COVID-19 and Mental Health Among Top Challenges for Upcoming Academic Year
Even with vaccination efforts ramping up, COVID-19 remains a major concern for K–12 schools, colleges and universities. Safety concerns that were priorities before COVID-19, such as student mental health and physical health, are still major concerns.
(More) K-12 Stimulus Funding is Coming. How Will You Spend It?
On March 11th, 2021 – the first anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization – President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law. The Act provides $1.9 billion in stimulus funding fo
COVID-19 Remains Top Safety Concern for Upcoming School Year
In-person learning has resumed in school districts across the country, but questions about the upcoming academic year are beginning to surface. What will school look like next year? What are the major safety concerns? What actions can be done to alleviate and resolve them?
Mental Health Awareness Month is an Opportunity for Companies to Invest More in Trauma Programs
Research conducted by Mental Health America last year found that past trauma is the second most common cause of mental distress after loneliness – a factor that has been in many people's lives during the coronavirus pandemic.
Why Nurses Need Mental Health Days
Throughout the country, dozens of programs have been set up to better support nurses' mental health. Do they need to do more?
Thank You Public Service & EMS Professionals
Public Service Recognition Week was established in 1985 to honor more than 23 million federal, state, local, and tribal government employees who protect, support, and educate our communities. Annual events are held to deliver messages about the value of public service and acknowledge public accomplishments.
SOC 2 HIPAA Compliance: The Process at Rave and Result
SOC2 was developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and defines criteria that service providers should have in place to manage and protect customer data. SOC 2 helps Rave demonstrate our due diligence and commitment to protecting customer data and maintaining an available and secure SaaS solution.
Webinar Recap: Funding School Safety Initiatives via Grant Programs
Thanks to funding for school safety initiatives made available by the American Rescue Plan, schools can apply for funding to strengthen school safety programs and technology via grant programs. This webinar provides an overview of the economic stimulus package being allocated to enable schools to reopen safely.
New Webinar: How to Overcome Top Public Safety Challenges
Recently, the team at Rave Mobile Safety hosted a webinar discussing the top public safety challenges of the past year, how the challenges were overcome, and what new practices evolved out of overcoming the challenges.
Is Virtual Learning Preparing Students for Remote Work?
In the past year, students across the United States had to make major adjustments to their learning styles because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. While virtual learning has come with many educational detriments, could it be preparing students for a future of remote work?
911 Education: What to Know Before You Call
9-1-1 is considered to be the “Universal Emergency Number” in the United States. Have you ever wondered how our current 9-1-1 system came to be?
U.S Secret Service Analysis Shows Plots Against Schools Shared Ahead of Time
Studies show most students who plan school attacks exhibit observable concerning behavior and other early indicators of violence. Learn how school personnel can create and maintain a safe school environment that encourages students to speak up if they see students struggling.
Do You Know How To Prepare Your Front Lines For Community Protection?
Preparing the front lines of community protection is a complex task requiring collaboration with multiple agencies to ensure a streamlined emergency response. Learn how fast and accurate communication can enhance response efforts and emergency preparedness planning.
HR Leaders Should Evaluate Their Company Communications Software
For those working in human resources, the everyday responsibilities have abruptly changed to adapt to the new challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Severe Weather Safety Planning Is Important For Protecting Your Family
The current process for alerting communities to severe weather doesn't utilize comprehensive coverage to provide notifications to all residents. Does your community use a multi-modal alerting system?
Addressing the High School Mental Health Crisis
Discussing ways to address a high school mental health crisis is a difficult subject. The data used to support the concerns is often unreliable, taken out of context, or contradictory.
What are Common Communication Systems in Healthcare?
In order to address communication issues, improve the quality of healthcare, and enhance productivity, technological solutions started emerging for every healthcare process.
Seaboard Foods Case Study Illustrates the Versatility of the Rave Platform
Seaboard Foods adopted the Rave platform as an effective means to deliver targeted emergency and non-emergency messaging to employees. When the coronavirus pandemic started the company was forced to use the Rave platform in ways it had never envisaged.
Do Emergency Blue Light Boxes Work? The History of This Campus Safety Tool
If you have visited a college or university campus in the past thirty years, the likelihood is you will have seen an emergency blue light box – a highly visible bright blue pillar that connects students to campus security with the press of a button
How Colleges Can Help Prevent Sexual Assaults on Campus
There are several strategies college or university safety managers can use to better prevent sexual assaults on campus.
Police Perception Report Reveals How Americans Rate Local Public Safety Services
Public perception of law enforcement has changed over the past few years. Learn how mainstream media is influencing public opinion and how community surveys demonstrate a need for more police involvement in school safety and security.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Service Worker Safety
According to RegisteredNursing.org, more than 20 percent of coronavirus cases in some states are among healthcare workers; and, whereas most media attention relating to the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers has been focused on direct care work
What is Red Collar Crime?
Red collar crime is a subgroup of white collar crime in which the perpetrator uses violence to avoid detection or prosecution.
What to Look for When Evaluating Campus Security Software
Due to the many different types of campus security software, there is no one-size-fits-all procedure for evaluating each option. However, regardless of whether you are evaluating campus security software to secure real estate, keep populations safe,
A Timeline of Blue Alerts, What They Are, and How They Work
For more than ten years, many state and local governments have had the ability to use a “blue alert” system of mass notification in order to warn the public of dangerous offenders on the run and to solicit information that can help apprehend them.
A Day in the Life of a Hospital Emergency Manager
A hospital emergency manager is an individual responsible for the overall planning and response to emergencies that can affect the healthcare organization and communities that rely on it.
How to Use Mass Notification With A Remote Workforce
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, freelancers were projected to make up the majority of the workforce by 2027, as more companies embrace flexible work schedules, according to a study conducted by the Freelancer’s Union.
What to Know about the 2021 Update to the FSA Campus Safety Handbook
In October 2020, the Department of Education announced it was rescinding the Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting and replacing it with an appendix to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Handbook.
Why Public Agencies Should Take Care Promoting 988
988 is the Federal Communications Commission's approved crisis resource telephone number for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The primary purpose of the 988 service will be to prevent mental health crises escalating into emergencies – not to respond to emergencies caused by an individual in crisis.
5 Tips for a Successful Joint Commission Accreditation Survey
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that “accredits” more than twenty-two thousand healthcare organizations and healthcare programs in the United States.
Overcoming Vaccine Distribution Challenges in Your Community – Webinar Recap
Vaccine distribution in many communities across the United States has been challenging. Hear how some state and local agencies are using technology to improve communication.
What Corporate Communications Looks Like at Organizations That Provide Essential Services
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of clear and accessible corporate communications – particularly by organizations that provide essential services.
Accelerating Appropriate 911 Responses in Mental Health Crises
The issue of 911 responses to mental health crises dates from the 1970s when a combination of factors led to the systematic mass closing of state-run residential psychiatric hospitals. Lack of adequate support resulted in an increase in crime, arrest rates, incarceration, and homelessness among the mentally ill.
The Rise of Visitor Management and Communication in Healthcare
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many areas of healthcare operations; and one of the areas that has seen some of the biggest changes is visitor management and communication.
The Role of Technology in the 5 “E’s” of Corporate Safety
Although the 5 E's of corporate safety can vary between training organizations, they generally follow the sequence of Education, Engagement, Engineering, Enforcement, and Evaluation.
3 Questions to Ask When Evaluating Your Campus Mass Notification System
Campus mass notification systems can help Higher Ed institutions do more with less in terms of improving communication to address student mental health challenges and challenges related to diversity and inclusion – for students, faculty, and staff.
How to Overcome Public Safety Challenges and Build Community Trust
Residents want to know what’s going on and what actions to take when an adverse event strikes, as well as stay updated. But it’s challenging for state and local agencies to get the information out to their communities.
Why Healthcare Facilities Need to Reevaluate their Emergency Messaging System
Even as the industry battles ongoing challenges related to the coronavirus, the pandemic has swiftly transformed healthcare’s communication needs and priorities.
What is SMS Opt-In for Mass Notification Systems?
SMS opt-in requires individuals wishing to be included in a notification database to text a keyword to a short code number. Lean about other uses for SMS opt-in such as notifications and alerts to temporary visitors at tourist attractions, concerts and more.
When Kids are Absent from School in Ohio: Alianna Alert Law
In April 2019 the ‘Alianna Alert’ Law went into effect in Ohio requiring all schools to alert parents if their children are absent from school within two hours of school starting. This law was named after Alianna DeFreeze, whose murder proved schools were failing to notify parents when their students were not in school.
Breaking Down Hospital Emergency Codes
Hospital emergency codes were originally introduced in healthcare facilities to discreetly alert staff to emergency events over public address systems. The motive behind using different colors to represent different types of emergencies was to prevent situations in which emergency responses were obstructed by alarmed patients and visitors.
The Latest on Workplace Violence Statistics
Updated 2/9/2021—The latest on workplace violence statistics for 2021 is that despite the COVID-19 pandemic many federal agencies have been able to publish figures relating to fatal and non-fatal injuries at work; and from these figures it has been
The Obstacles Standing in the Way of Streamlined Employee Communication
As organizations consider what the future of the workplace will look like, they can’t ignore one particular challenge – employee communication. Efficient and effective employee communication has been a common struggle even before the COVID-19 outbreak.
Back to Basics: School Safety
While having schools fully reopen will be a positive milestone in the battle against COVID-19, it will create challenges for school safety. Staff shortages, cyberbullying, and natural and manmade events will be just as disruptive as they were before the pandemic.
4 Critical Workplace Safety Resolutions for 2022
2022 is full of uncertainty for those in charge of the safety and wellbeing of employees. Many workplaces like offices or manufacturing and healthcare facilities are still making adjustments following the COVID-19 outbreak. Although it seems l
What are Desktop Notifications for Business?
Learn how desktop notifications for business integrated within your organization's emergency notification system capture the attention of employees for important issues.
What is the Role of a Public Information Officer (PIO)?
Public information officers (PIOs) have an extremely important duty in sharing critical information with communities in order to save lives and protect property.
Why Cyberbullying Is On The Rise with Virtual Learning
The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to virtual learning have increased rates of cyberbullying in K-12 schools, calling for greater bullying prevention efforts.
Preparing Your Community for Social Unrest: How Technology Solutions Can Help
Preparing for social unrest amid these trying times requires coordination and collaboration between several state and local agencies.
From PTO to RTO: How Employee Communication Has Changed in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed employee communications in 2020, with organizations updating a variety of policies, from PTO to RTO.
CARES Act Funding for Municipalities – Where’s the Money Going?
The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced the distribution of $150 billion of CARES Act funding for municipalities. States and eligible units of local government will share $139 billion. Learn how the money is being allocated state by state.
4 Must-Haves To Look for in a School Alert App
Due to the shortcomings of wall-mounted alarms and Bluetooth-enabled wearables, school districts are searching for a school alert app that communicates emergencies to teachers, staff and 9-1-1 in the quickest and most efficient way possible.
Should Teachers be Treated Like Front-Line Workers?
Reopening schools has proven to be unpredictable and stressful for teachers and faculty. The biggest challenge for schools is ensuring the safety of both the students and school staff.
Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation
If you’ve been browsing the internet you’ve likely come across misinformation about the coronavirus. It's key for government leaders to prevent the spread of rumors.
What Impact Will COVID-19 Have On College Sports?
The COVID-19 pandemic upended college and university life, with nearly all higher education institutions across the United States suspending in-person classes, encouraging students to move off-campus or return home, and canceling all student events, including college sports.
What are Strike Teams and how do they Minimize COVID-19 Hot Spots in Communities?
Most states have rapid response units tasked with responding to community outbreaks of COVID-19 and minimizing the impact of the virus. While not all rapid response units are assigned the title of “strike team”, they all do much the same thing - albeit on different scales.
How Mass Notification Helps to Identify and Communicate with Your At-Risk Population
Notifying residents about a public health emergency. Evacuating them before a wildfire or a hurricane strikes. Initiating rescue efforts to a flooded neighborhood. Providing comfort to the community after an active assailant incident. Safeguarding co
4 Nice Ways to Welcome Students Back to School Virtually or In-Person
K-12 schools around the country are welcoming students back to the classroom. The situation is subject to change as rates of infection can change quickly. How is the best way to welcome back to school in a fluid environment?
Why It’s Important to Check-In on Your K-12 Employees
As the globe struggles to adapt to the changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, keeping mental health front of mind is extremely important.
Will We See Alyssa’s Law in the State of New York?
Alyssa's Law would require some kind of silent panic button or alarm in all public schools with a direct link to law enforcement agencies.
Managing Mental Health Remotely For K-12 Schools
In response to the international outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), K-12 schools across the country canceled classes and moved learning online. Teachers have readjusted to their new normal, sending virtual schedule and prerecorded links fo
How State and Local Governments can Enforce Social Distancing Policies and Better Protect Employees in the Community
While the U.S. remains behind most of the world in terms of the number of confirmed coronavirus infections per 100,000 citizens, state and local governments have an opportunity to take advantage of communication solutions in order to enforce social d
Overcoming Challenges for the Aging Workforce
In this day and age, it’s no surprise; people are living longer. Over the last 5 decades the number of older people in the population and in the workforce has grown and is projected to continue to grow. The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Stat
What Does an Emergency Management Coordinator Do?
An emergency management coordinator typically creates and prepares specific plans and procedures for responding to threats such as a natural disaster, active assailant, or another community emergency.
How To Manage Parade Safety
On March 17, cities typically celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with food, music, dancing, and of course, parades. Each region will have different traditions for their St. Patrick’s Day parade – from pipes and drum band to floats to Irish step-da
Employee Wellness and Workplace Safety Have Strong ROI
By approaching employee wellness and workplace safety as a strategic business investment, employers can generate ROI.
School Tips Lines Have Uncovered a Teen Mental Health Crisis
Anonymous school tip lines have uncovered another crisis that clearly must be addressed: teen suicide and mental health concerns.
Protecting Victims From Intimate Partner Stalking
Domestic violence or intimate partner violence is one of the most prevalent safety issues. Studies have shown that nearly half of domestic violence incidents go unreported. Learn how local law enforcement agencies are protecting domestic abuse victims and the tools available to protect them.
Implementing Emergency Response Plans in Manufacturing Facilities
It’s important for businesses to create and have comprehensive emergency response plans in place in the case of a workplace emergency. It’s especially important that workplaces with hazardous materials, heavy machinery, and increased risks for in
Blue Lights Versus A Campus Safety App: What’s the Real Cost?
Emergency blue light boxes have become a symbol of safety on campus, and may feel like an essential part of a college or university security plan. But blue light boxes have also come under new scrutiny in recent years, with safety professionals reevaluating how effective the tool is in a digital age.
Why Every School Should Have A Panic Button App System
A school panic button app system is a communication system for schools designed to improve the outcome of emergencies by enabling faster responses and more effective school emergency communication between schools, staff, 9-1-1 call dispatchers, and incident managers.
Domestic Violence Statistics: How Can We Prevent and Respond?
Intimate partner violence, or domestic violence, is defined as the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power or control perpetrated by one intimate partner
What are Typical School Crisis Scenario Examples?
People may not share the same definition of “crisis”, and what may be “typical” for one area of the country may not be for another.
The 4 Best Examples of Police and Mental Health Response
Learn how technology can improve police response to mental health emergencies.
9-1-1 Texting System Proves to Stop Self-Harm
Two-way text message communication with 9-1-1 has proven to be an effective way to stop self-harm
Questions to Ask When Evaluating Their Next University Texting Platform
Campus safety managers should turn to key questions higher education officials ask when evaluating their next university texting platform.
National Bullying Prevention Month – Top Resources on Bullying
Find bullying resources such as websites and organizations, bullying legislation, LGBTQ initiatives, programs, curricula, and technologies that can help educators tackle bullying in school.
What Are School Security Officer Duties?
Learn the essential duties of a school security officer.
The Top Qualities to Look for When Hiring a School Resource Officer
The School Resource Officer supports and facilitates the educational process within a school system by providing a safe and secure environment through building and establishing meaningful relationships with students and staff.
The Best of the Best #ThankYou911 Posts
Every day all across the U.S., 9-1-1 telecommunicators, supervisors, public educators and many others work around the clock to provide help to every person who needs it. April was #911EducationMonth, and here are some of our favorite #ThankYou911 posts from this year.
Could AI Integrations in Healthcare Help Reduce Nurse Staffing Issues?
Across the United States, nurse staffing shortages are putting a strain on hospital workers and jeopardizing patient safety. Leveraging technology can play a big role in fixing staffing concerns and improving the quality of patient treatment.
How School Safety Has Changed Since the Columbine School Shooting 20 Years Ago
School safety leaders have put a focus on enhancing emergency protocols and procedures, recognizing red flags, working with local public safety leaders to create more cohesive school emergency plans, and implementing new emergency response tools that provide interoperability.
Lessons Learned from The New Zealand Shootings
The Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15 shook New Zealand and prompted a powerful inquiry into the worst mass murder in the country’s history. The shootings were two consecutive terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand during Friday pra
Managing Hospital Safety During Nursing Strikes
In March of 2019, unionized nurses in New York City delivered a formal strike notice to the three largest hospital networks. The notice warned that if the hospital management and the New York State Nurses Union didn’t reach an agreement, 10,000 nur
Examples of Community Policing Strategies at Work
Although community policing and the efforts surrounding it may look different in each jurisdiction, there are many examples of community policing strategies at work demonstrating the three key components of organizational transformation, community partnerships, and shared problem-solving.
What is a Soft Lockdown?
There are key differences between a hard lockdown and a soft lockdown. A hard lockdown indicates an immediate threat on campus - it requires the school to go into an internal emergency procedure. A soft lockdown is used when a possible threat is identified in the surrounding area.
What Are Urgent Communications to Employees?
Workplaces everywhere are exploring ways to improve employee communication.
The Role of Panic Buttons in School Safety Drills and Emergency Response
A seamless school safety drill doesn't just happen on its own. There are many factors to consider when determining the best way to evacuate a building, lock down a classroom, or notify staff members. Some panic button app systems can help schools run safety drills that are thorough and effective.
How Telemedicine Can Help Treat the College Mental Health Crisis
Campus officials are struggling to meet the demand for mental healthcare on campus.
How Managers Can Handle Domestic Violence in the Workplace
Learn ways that employers can do better to protect employees who may be struggling with domestic or partner violence in the workplace or in their personal lives.
The Unfolding Reality of First Responder PTSD After Natural Disasters
Anybody can suffer PTSD following a natural disaster, but an alarming statistic has emerged relating to first responder PTSD after natural disasters.
15 Years of the Hospital Preparedness Program And Where It’s Heading
In May of 2018, the Hospital Preparedness Program celebrated fifteen years of enhancing the ability of hospitals and healthcare systems to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. We look at why the program was established, what its obje
What Is Mobile Integrated Healthcare?
Mobile integrated healthcare is a movement that aims to deliver higher quality and more cost effective medical care by coordinating resources among emergency medical care (EMS) providers, hospitals, in-home carers, and insurance companies.
The Cost of Controversial Speakers on College Campuses
Hosting controversial speakers on campus is likely to remain a difficult question for college and university safety managers. While it's important to encourage free speech and to allow campus communities to express their constitutional rights, some recent events have shown that these events can come at a physical cost.
Reducing Burden of Nurse to Patient Ratio in Hospitals
Professionals working in healthcare are statistically more susceptible to workplace violence than those working in other industries. Learn how a mass notification system and timely communication can keep employees safe and ensure that every patient is receiving the best possible care.
7 Internal Communication Messages to Send via Mass Notification
Many companies are now turning to “digital enterprise media channels” to ensure that all employees receive and respond as needed to critical messages. This focus on digital is part of a bigger transformation.
National Police Week Honors Fallen or Injured Law Enforcement
In May, law enforcement officers from across the country will travel to Washington D.C. to participate in a series of events and ceremonies for National Police Week. The week coincides with Peace Officers Memorial day, which falls on May 15th, and bo
Overcoming 5 Business Communication Challenges
Katharine Dahl, presented a webinar on five critical business communication challenges. Here’s a quick overview of her main points and how corporate leaders can implement a more effective communication strategy for their organizations. To start, Ka
Streamlining 911 Operations with Text-from-911
The primary reasons that Text-to-911 is being used in PSAPs across the country are to aid deaf and hard-of-hearing callers, those with speech impairments, and to address emergencies where verbal communication isn’t possible or is unsafe.
Violence Against Teachers is a Silent National Crisis
Violence against teachers is a significant yet under-investigated problem in the United States that has profound implications for schooling, teacher retention, and overall student performance.
The History of Mass Notification: From Paul Revere to Amber Alerts and Beyond
Take a look back through the history of mass notification, how it has evolved over the years and what the future holds. Technology is ever-evolving and it’s no surprise that methods we use today to notify the masses are different from years past.
7 Acts of Community Policing Around The Holidays and Beyond
The holidays present many opportunities for law enforcement professionals to connect with the neighborhoods they work in. Across the country, many local police departments have invested in community policing initiatives to do just that.
How To Harden Soft Target Locations
What is a Soft Target? A soft target is a location or place that is vulnerable due to its lack of security or protection, though is often populated by groups of people. To understand the threats posed to soft targets, it’s important to identify