Rave Mobile Safety (Rave), the
trusted provider of emergency and public safety solutions that help save
lives, today announced a significant advancement to its product
suite that will be unveiled at NENA
2019 next week: live streaming. The feature enhances public safety
officials’ ability to communicate, assess emergency situations, better
deploy critical resources, collaborate and make more informed decisions
during an event with real-time critical information.
Rave’s live streaming works with the existing 9-1-1 system and networks
to provide telecommunicators, supervisors, emergency operations center
(EOC) managers, field commanders, responders and emergency management
officials the ability to request a live feed from any smartphone,
without the need for a pre-loaded app or a NG9-1-1 network. Innovative
early use cases include:
- School safety and active assailant situational awareness
- Counseling for mentally ill or suicidal callers (2-way video optional)
- Real-time damage assessment by emergency management teams
- Responder collaboration between on-site and off-site personnel
Rave’s live streaming enables the 9-1-1 call taker or other authorized
public safety official to initiate live streaming by simply sending a
text message to the caller with a link to establish the streaming video,
putting the control of video into the hands of public safety. Once
initiated on both sides, the call taker or first responder can use the
live stream to gain situational awareness and determine what resources
should be allocated. Call takers, who will be able to view the stream
but not appear on it themselves, can also instantly share video with
supervisors, first responders and other emergency personnel whose expert
opinions can be used to ensure a fast, safe and appropriate response.
The feature will also help free up life-saving resources by identifying
issues that may not require significant or urgent response. Where the
situation dictates, the call taker or responder can easily manage
multiple live streams. Callers or other citizens can only live stream
when the public safety agency sends them a request, eliminating the risk
of agency personnel who are untrained or unprepared for video content
receiving it.
“Dispatchers always visualize the scene when they’re on a call,” said
Robert R. Stahelin II, 9-1-1 and Tech Support Supervisor of Eaton County
9-1-1, Mich. and Rave 911 Suite user who is an early adopter of live
stream. “With this new feature, they will actually be able to see the
scene, which will help improve responder safety and the caller’s safety.”
John Jokantas, Director of Hancock County, Indiana 911 Center, first
deployed the Rave 911 Suite in May 2017 and is another early user of
live stream. “Live video is definitely going to change the way 9-1-1
emergency dispatch serves citizens and first responders,” he said. “The
stream gives dispatch a live look into a scene before responders arrive.”
Jokantas also sees other potential uses for live streaming video in
public safety. “Imagine a nurse or doctor being able to triage a patient
from outside the building where a mass causality event has just taken
place. Dispatchers can relay important safety information to officers
who are responding to a dangerous call. Fire Controllers could have the
ability to see if there are flames present or what color smoke is coming
from a possible structure fire. As part of the Rave 911 Suite, the ways
we can use this to our advantage are endless.”
Live stream can be an effective tool across multiple scenarios,
including active shooters, school emergencies, mass casualty events,
severe weather, traffic accidents and industrial disasters, among
others. For example, a live stream of a fire in a large manufacturing
plant could help a call taker understand the actual size and scope of
what is happening, instead of relying on an unclear or subjective
description; the call taker could also consult with an expert who, upon
seeing the stream, would know that yellow smoke being produced is likely
an ammonia gas leak, requiring immediate evacuation of the space.
“As mobile devices and streaming video become more pervasive in our
society, it only makes sense to leverage that technology in critical,
often life-saving situations,” said Todd Piett, CEO at Rave Mobile
Safety. “Live streaming is like a one-way FaceTime® call that can put
the 9-1-1 call taker’s or first responder’s eyes on a situation in
seconds, and when coupled with the information in the Rave
911 Suite, provides the most comprehensive insight available to help
PSAPs respond swiftly and appropriately to every call.”
Current Rave customers may request to join the beta program for live
streaming, which is already underway. Interested customers can contact
their customer success representative to determine eligibility to
participate, and non-customers can contact sales@ravemobilesafety.com
for more information. Demonstrations of the live streaming feature will
also be held at Rave’s booth (#1207) at NENA 19, the annual conference
of The National Emergency Number Association, taking place in Orlando
June 14-19. To learn more about using live video to overcome challenges
in emergency communications, view this on-demand
webinar.
About Rave Mobile Safety
Rave Mobile Safety provides
innovative emergency and public safety technology to help save lives.
The Rave platform integrates data and communication tools to help those
in charge of keeping others safe prepare better, respond faster and
communicate more effectively in emergency situations. Thousands of
agencies and institutions across law enforcement, 9-1-1, state and local
emergency management agencies, corporations, healthcare organizations,
K–12 districts, colleges and universities depend on Rave’s award-winning
software solutions. Founded in 2004, Rave is headquartered in
Framingham, Mass. and backed by leading growth equity firm TCV. For more
information, visit https://www.ravemobilesafety.com/
or follow the company on Twitter.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190613005168/en/