When a medical emergency happens on a school campus, a rapid response is critical. Mere seconds can mean the difference between a near-miss and a life-threatening crisis. A comprehensive school alert system includes wearable panic buttons that enable staff to request immediate support at their precise location during medical emergencies, thus eliminating delays.
โTime is a Giftโ: CENTEGIXยฎ Eliminates Delays in Escambia County
School administrators at Escambia County Schools (AL) wished to enhance safety on its two campuses by implementing wearable panic buttons with precise locating capabilities. The schools now protect students and staff with the CENTEGIXยฎ school alert system.ย
In the spring of 2022, a third-grade student experienced a life-threatening emergency on the playground at Flomaton Elementary School. The teacherโs radio, which staff traditionally used to call for help on campus, was out of reach. But the teacher was wearing a CENTEGIX CrisisAlertโข badge. She pressed the badge three times, and an alert was immediately issued.ย
Within 60 seconds, the student was surrounded by seven adults, including administrators, nurses, and a school resource officer (SRO). The obstruction in the childโs throat was successfully cleared. By enabling an immediate response to a life-threatening medical emergency, Flomaton Elementary School Principal Courtney McBride said, โCENTEGIX earned its keep that day.โ
According to McBride, the CrisisAlert badge โis an extra thick layer of safety that is immediate. Youโve got somebody on the scene in a matter of seconds.โ The CENTEGIX Safety Platformยฎ issues immediate notifications and precise alert location information, empowering school staff to request and receive help anywhere on campus. Staff and students in Escambia County Schools know that when a medical emergency occurs, help is only seconds away.
Brantley County Schools: EVERY. SECOND. MATTERS.ยฎย
In the Brantley County Schools (GA), staff are equipped with CENTEGIX CrisisAlert wearable panic buttons. In February 2023, a teacher used their CrisisAlert badge to request help at their precise location when another teacher experienced cardiac arrest.ย
The incident began when one teacher heard what sounded like crying. They went to investigate and found a colleague on the floor. Another teacher rushed in and pressed her CrisisAlert badge three times, alerting the principal and nurse to an emergency. When they arrived, the teacher was not breathing. Less than three minutes from the moment the emergency began, they began CPR.ย
Less than one minute later, additional support arrived, equipped with the schoolโs AED. The teacherโs pulse returned after responders deployed the AED. EMS took over and rushed the teacher to the hospital. In this instance, the CENTEGIX school alert system saved precious, life-saving seconds. According to Brantley County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Morgan, โThe doctors told [the impacted teacher] without a doubt if the AED had not been used within the first five to six minutes, she wouldnโt be here today. So we know without a doubt that the badge helped speed up that response.โ
CENTEGIX Enables Rapid Response at West Georgia Technical College
West Georgia Technical College serves nearly 10,000 students across five main and four satellite campuses. These campuses are spread across vast distances and include a mix of modern and historical buildings. West Georgia Technical Collegeโs geographical and structural attributes present unique challenges for safety planning and communication. Implementing the CENTEGIX school alert system across campuses has empowered West Georgia Technical College to create a safety ecosystem and eliminate delays in emergency response.ย
In one medical emergency, a staff member toppled from her chair and collapsed under her desk, unable to reach a phone to call for help. She was able to press the button on her CrisisAlert badge before becoming incapacitated. The nearest available designated staff member immediately rendered aid and contacted a dispatch officer, who dispatched an ambulance. CENTEGIX technology enabled this prompt notification and response, which is critical in medical emergencies where every second matters.ย
West Georgia Technical College staff have used their CENTEGIX wearable panic buttons to request help at their location during a variety of emergencies. According to Chief Perry, โWeโre averaging probably two students a week that are having medical issues and weโve had to call ambulances in. Our staff have gotten so comfortable that theyโre really hitting [their CrisisAlert badges] now.โ Staff and students gain peace of mind knowing that if an emergency occurs, help is available and will arrive quickly.ย
CENTEGIX solutions have reduced response times at West Georgia Technical College. According to Perry, โOur response time has been in the seconds, not in the minutes. And itโs been fantastic for us.โย
Location Awareness is Key in Muscogee County Schools
School leaders at Muscogee County Schools assert that CENTEGIX technology has played a crucial role in the positive outcomes of multiple emergencies. In 2021, a culinary technician was working in one of the Muscogee County Schools when they experienced a grand mal seizure. A nearby colleague was equipped with a CENTEGIX CrisisAlert wearable panic button and immediately initiated a help request at their location. The colleague rendered aid while first responders immediately deployed medical services to their precise location. The location awareness provided by CENTEGIXโs critical incident mapping technology eliminated potential delays, enabling responders to provide care during the first critical moments of a medical emergency.ย
According to Muscogee County Schools Superintendent Dr. David Lewis, the CENTEGIX Safety Platform reduces response times. โI can only imagine [without the CrisisAlert badge,] it wouldโve been a much worse outcome,โ Dr. Lewis said. โFor me, that one incident saving [that life] and giving them the support they needed at the time they needed the most is probably the most gratifying thing I can say about this particular resource.โย
In another instance, a custodian was working alone and experienced a cardiac arrest. He needed immediate medical help. He pressed the button on his CrisisAlert badge and summoned help to his precise location before becoming unresponsive. On-site responders were able to immediately deploy medical services and equipment, saving precious seconds. According to Dr. Lewis, โThe ability for coaches or school staff or administrators who might be on scene to deploy the resources that quickly to the right location […] provides a certain level of comfort, obviously, for our employees and to our parents and students as well, to know that we have that resource available to us, should the need arise.โย
CENTEGIX: Comprehensive School Safety Solutions that Eliminate Delays
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform provides the speed, clarity, coordination, and intelligence that school leaders need to reduce emergency response times. The Safety Platform runs on dedicated, private networks with built-in redundancies, making it a reliable source of real-time information during emergencies of all kinds.ย
During medical emergencies, when seconds matter, the Safety Platform provides visibility into the exact location of an incident, helping teams replace uncertainty with coordinated action. The Safety Platformโs multi-sensory notifications guarantee that everyone on campus immediately knows whatโs happening and which protocols to initiate. When your school alert system eliminates confusion, first responders can provide immediate aid, reducing delays and mitigating adverse outcomes.ย
To learn more about how the CENTEGIX Safety Platform and wearable panic button technology can help your district eliminate delays, schedule a demo today.ย
