paris attacks

WEYMOUTH, MA…

ELERTS, a leader in mobile emergency response communication, recently launched computer versions of its ELERTS Event Alert™ app. The new apps enable school staff to use Apple Macintosh computers, Windows PCs and Chromebooks, in addition to their smartphones, to send and receive alerts in the event of suspicious persons or threatening activity.

ELERTS created the computer versions of this app in response to requests from ELERTS school customers who wanted to be able to access Event Alert app from their desktop as well as smartphones. With the  Event Alert app, vigilant staff can alert the entire school staff and local police to security threats by simply pressing a few buttons. With the new desktop versions, even more teachers have access to this potentially life-saving technology.

“Our ELERTS Event Alert™ app is used across the country in a number of school systems. As we discovered, not everyone can use a smartphone during class time. Having ELERTS Event Alert available for the three most popular computer platforms addresses that issue,” said Ed English, CEO of Weymouth, MA-based ELERTS Corp. “The computer versions provide access to those teachers, administrative staff and school employees who prefer not to use their personal cell phone for work purposes.”

Installation of the app is as simple as a facility’s network administrator copying the Event Alert app to the desired computers. The application runs automatically when the computer restarts.

Designed for iPhones, iPads, and Android Smartphones and now Mac, PC and Chromebook computers, ELERTS Event Alert™ provides teachers and other staff with the opportunity to immediately alert persons on school property, police, and other emergency responders in the event of suspicious persons or threatening activity on school grounds. In addition to notification, Event Alert has the capability to provide real-time situation awareness—through photos, video, text, GPS maps showing the incident location, and other details—that are critical for First Responders.

The app also enables authority personnel, such as a principal or superintendent, to initiate a lockdown, shelter-in-place or evacuation command.  The app can directly alert police mobile devices so they can respond faster.

“Teachers and anyone who has been in a lockdown practice drill or a real lockdown know, in a darkened room, they are not getting critical information needed to decide how to respond. Who, what and where is the threat now?” said English. “The two-way communication capabilities of this app provide those in immediate danger, First Responders and those nearby with real-time situation awareness that’s so critical to a safe outcome.”

For a K-12 school system, ELERTS Event Alert system is currently priced at $100 per month per building, on an annual basis. The application for computers is included at no extra charge.

Said English, “According to Wikipedia, there were only 35 school shootings over a period of one decade, in the 1980’s. Now in 2015 alone, there have been 20 documented shootings (18 with fatalities) and more than two months remain in the year. Today’s teachers and students go to school in an age where it’s unlikely a week will go by without a school lockdown or shooting incident. And as Sandy Hook in Newtown CT showed, you just don’t know where the next incident will occur. It can happen anywhere. Prior to the massacre, rural Newtown was rated as one of the safest towns in America. With our ELERTS Event Alert app now able to be used on computers as well as Smartphone’s, the reach of critical communications during a violent event at school has expanded.”

For more information or a demo on ELERTS Event Alert system, please call 877-256-1971 or visit www.ELERTS.com.

About ELERTS

ELERTS Corporation, headquartered in Weymouth, MA, develops best-in-class emergency communication software empowered by community-sourced reporting of safety and security concerns. The company’s cloud-based approach leverages smartphone technologies to provide robust, two-way communication between multiple parties. ELERTS mobile technology integrates with video surveillance, access control and mass-notification systems. The result is actionable information for emergency situations – to help First Responders become faster responders.

For more information, visit www.ELERTS.com or call 877-256-1971.

ELERTS Event Alert™ app released for Mac, Windows and ChromebookRead More

ELERTS crowd-sourced rider tips to keep transit systems safe

WEYMOUTH, MA…

The attacks on Paris have registered sadly a lasting reminder that when you go out in public, seemingly calm environments can turn to chaos quickly. For those who use public transportation, it is important to be aware of the surroundings and suspicious behavior. Perhaps more importantly, you must know how to report it.

Many mass transit systems have increased patrols and use of K-9 sweeps to tighten security. But even with tightened security, transit police need the eyes and ears of riders as a force multiplier. Part of that is educating riders on what to look for and mentally note.

“Since 9/11, public transportation systems have been a soft target for terrorists and transportation authorities have installed systems and technology and encouraged riders to report suspicious behavior,” said Ed English, CEO of ELERTS, the leading provider of See Something, Say Something mobile apps for mass transit systems. “Those systems work even better when transit riders know what to look for and report it. Human analytics are very powerful.”

Some things English notes as potentially suspicious are: An unattended package or bag on a seat or a platform; unauthorized people in a seemingly restricted area; suspicious behavior or disorderly conduct; unexplainable odors, substances, or smoke.

Just as important as noticing this sort of activity are mentally noting things about the people and the suspicious behavior they are exhibiting (e.g. note the who, what, when where and why of the suspicious activity). It’s also important to note other details, specifically of the people involved (e.g. age, sex, gender, height, weight, hair color, clothing, etc.).

“What’s really key is that people report suspicious activity quickly. Rapid alerting can give first responders precious time to respond to an emergency or developing situation. If you are out and about, call 911. If you are on a train or bus, utilize the systems they have in place like text-a-tip lines, for example,” said English. “Apps like ours and others make it easy for concerned citizens to report suspicious behavior and to provide important information, without putting themselves in harm’s way.”

Presently, the ELERTS Transit mobile app is used by major transit systems, including MARTA in Atlanta, the MBTA in Boston, the NFTA in Buffalo, the VTA in Santa Clara and BART in San Francisco. Daily, more than 2.5 million riders may use ELERTS Transit app to report security and safety concerns to transit police and security dispatchers. ELERTS also has similar apps for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, corporations and more.

ELERTS transit app connects riders to the proper authorities in a seamless way.  There is no phone number to remember, app users just press a few buttons to submit a report its quick and discrete. The web-based console also enables authorities to broadcast alerts to ELERTS app users.  For example, the transit app has been used to issue advisories on service disruptions; safety advice or BOLO (Be On the Look Out) messages may be sent to riders.  Transits have used ELERTS system to ask riders to find lost children, missing dementia patients and criminal suspects, by broadcasting messages to the rider’s app.

ELERTS transit app work with iPhone and Android smartphones. Users are able to utilize the app to submit reports containing photos, video, text descriptions and GPS maps, pinpointing the problem area.  ELERTS also offers a Text-A-Tip service for transit riders who do not have a smartphone.

For more information on ELERTS Transit, please call 877-256-1971 or visit www.ELERTS.com.

About ELERTS

ELERTS Corporation, headquartered in Weymouth, MA, develops best-in-class emergency communication software empowered by community-sourced reporting of safety and security concerns. The company’s cloud-based approach leverages smartphone technologies to provide robust, two-way communication between multiple parties. ELERTS mobile technology integrates with video surveillance, access control and mass-notification systems. The result is actionable information for emergency situations – to help First Responders become faster responders.

For more information, visit www.ELERTS.com or call 877-256-1971.

 

Tips on identifying and reporting suspicious behavior. Public transit customers can see something, say something.Read More