With violence against frontline workers on the rise, many schools and healthcare facilities are turning to wearable technology solutions.
Quality school districts and health care facilities make important contributions to improving the daily lives of people in our communities. Although these industries have many things in common, physical safety is a daily concern for both healthcare professionals and educators. This is a challenge that leaders and decision makers in both sectors must grapple with.
Last year, 81.6% of nurses reported experiencing an incident of workplace violence. At the same time, school shootings hit a record high of 308 in the 2022-2023 school year, and incidents involving violence against teachers are also on the rise.
As violence against frontline workers increases, technology has advanced to provide better options to help people get help quickly and reliably in emergencies. Many schools and healthcare facilities are turning to wearable technology solutions to foster safer communities.
Wearable technology enables faster and more reliable response to emergencies
A common safety tool used by healthcare facilities and school districts is cell phone-based apps that require access to cell phone service and devices. Cell phones may seem like the most practical resource to use in an emergency, but they actually cause more problems.
If your cell phone service is down, or if no one is within the area of campus where Wi-Fi is available, you may not be able to initiate an alert for help. Additionally, there are other barriers to mobile phone dependence. These barriers include the difficulty of receiving a stable and strong signal within a building, the possibility of mobile device batteries dying, and the difficulty of persuading employees to use their personal phones for work. This includes difficulty.
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Additionally, if security policies do not allow personal devices to be used for work purposes, there may be additional costs to provide devices to employees. Not all staff have personal cell phones or app-enabled smartphones. Employers who rely on their employees’ cell phones to keep them safe are only protecting the employees who have access to them. For this reason, mobile apps may not be available for reasons such as lack of access, privacy concerns associated with installing an app on a person’s phone, or a preference for calling 911 rather than accessing the app. It can be seen that the recruitment rate of employees is low.
Wearable technology solutions allow your staff to get help in an emergency quickly, easily, and discreetly. please think about it. It will be much easier to ask for help if you have safety tools on you at all times. Wearable safety solutions typically do not rely on Wi-Fi or cellular service and can be accessed discreetly. Discretion is key and this will help prevent situations with criminals from escalating. This is a fundamental element of training for medical staff related to workplace violence prevention.
Wearable solutions are typically designed to be easy to use, allowing you to initiate alerts with the push of a button. This design makes it easy to use in stressful situations where staff may not remember passwords or retrieve their mobile phones. Wearable solutions can also provide emergency responders with precise location information about the source of the alarm. Additionally, in the event of a campus-wide emergency, full audio and visual notifications are immediately communicated and everyone is notified with campus-wide alerts via flashing strobes, screen takeovers, and intercom messages.
Fostering safer school communities for students and teachers
Many of the nation’s major public school districts have implemented wearable technology solutions, such as panic buttons, in response to Alyssa’s Law. Many educators report that they feel safer accessing wearable, easy-to-use solutions than apps.
Named after Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victim Alyssa Alhadeff, Alyssa’s Law would require “silent panic alarms connected directly to law enforcement” to be placed in public elementary and middle schools in certain U.S. states. It is mandatory to install The purpose of this law is to reduce the time it takes for first responders to arrive in an emergency, whether it’s a shooting, natural disaster, or other type of incident.
Alyssa’s Law and panic button technology are creating a safer environment to learn and work. For example, in Florida, school districts continue to switch to mobile panic buttons to comply with the Alyssa Act. In a recent study of Florida schools, 98% of teachers surveyed reported feeling safer and more supported because they had access to wearable technology solutions. In Texas, another state that passed Alyssa’s Law, districts are also rolling out wearable panic buttons. Texas schools have demonstrated the positive impact of introducing this technology to school staff. In a recent report, 93% of Texas state employees surveyed reported that wearable panic buttons made them safer at work, and 99% of employees said badge-based solutions were easier to use. I answered.
When employees feel safe and supported at work, districts are able to attract and retain the most qualified educators. Many school districts are finding that wearable panic buttons also help address teacher recruitment and retention issues and make districts more attractive to top educators. When educators feel safe, they can focus on their true mission and create positive learning experiences for their students.
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After gaining access to a wearable solution, a high school teacher in Georgia said, “I feel safe for the first time in a while, and most importantly, I feel like I can respond quickly to keep my students safe.” ” he said.
Addressing workplace violence in healthcare, supporting staff and providing better patient care
The increase in incidents of violence in healthcare settings is impacting the ability of workers to perform to their fullest potential and is also contributing to staff retention issues. Health and social services workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers in other sectors. Additionally, a recent survey found that 25% of healthcare workers expressed that they would be prepared to quit their job due to violence in the healthcare setting, and nearly half of respondents said they were motivated by violence in the workplace. They admit that their satisfaction level has decreased.
To address this issue, more states are enacting or enacting laws aimed at protecting health care workers from workplace violence. Many states have enacted or are considering laws that would require health care facilities to provide increased protections for workers. Whether required by law or not, comprehensive safety technology is a wise investment. Safety technology is helping the medical community protect staff from workplace violence, improve staff health, and provide higher levels of patient care.
When hospitals prioritize workplace violence prevention programs and safety measures, they experience fewer problems with staff retention and recruitment. By focusing on staff safety, hospitals provide employees with peace of mind and improve their mental health. When staff feel safe and supported at work, they can pay more attention to patient care, leading to a better patient experience.
As we work to protect healthcare facilities and schools, technology can play a critical role in speeding response times and saving lives. Wearable panic buttons provide a solution that allows help to be delivered more quickly in time-sensitive situations. When help is available at the push of a button, schools and health care facilities become safer places for the professionals who provide critical services that communities rely on.
Ryan Bennett is CrisisAlert Product Manager and Andrea Greco is Senior Vice President of Medical Safety at CENTEGIX.
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