School securityEmergency management technology is customized for use in school security
School shootings are a very real fear for parents and school administrators, and a Ohio company has customized its emergency response solution for use in schools; the Web-based system which gives first responders eyes-on access to critical situational information, such as maps, floor plans, emergency protocols, call lists, and real-time video feeds where there are cameras
School shootings are a very real fear for parents and school administrators, and a Ohio company has customized its emergency response solution for use in schools nationwide.
NaviGate is a Web-based system which gives first responders eyes-on access to critical situational information, such as maps, floor plans, emergency protocols, call lists, and real-time video feeds where there are cameras.
The company notes that the information is stored on secure, redundant off-site servers — in the digital cloud — and is not affected by physical barriers or on-the-ground crisis situations. The technology is already installed in more than 1,100 locations across the United States and abroad. In addition to schools, the system is deployed in commercial building (for example, the Wills Tower in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower), as well as healthcare systems and university campuses.
The system is now being adapted in to be a cost-effective means for schools under the name NaviGate Prepared.
Critical information can be accessed via any Internet-enabled device, including on-board computers in police cruisers and hand-held devices. The company notes that that having key resources in hand before arriving at the site of an emergency significantly reduces assessment time and expedites informed action.
“Our covenant as parents is to do anything and everything we can to keep our kids safe,” said Bennett Fierman , Ph.D., president of Lauren Innovations. “We at Lauren Innovations believe that NaviGate Prepared is an invaluable safety tool, one that helps schools mitigate threats of all kinds.”
NaviGate Prepared is designed to assist school and community leaders be better prepared for emergencies. “Safety and security are our highest priority in the district,” said Curtis Clough , superintendent of the Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools in Strasburg, Ohio. “We implemented NaviGate Prepared three months ago, and this month we look forward to welcoming first responders into our school buildings to learn our emergency procedures.”
NaviGate has been designated as an anti-terrorism-level technology by DHS, and has passed tests in all critical areas as evaluated by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4). It was recently added as an authorized vendor to the GSA Federal Supplier List.
