Texas A&M University-Kingsville is prioritising safety and well-being for its 9,000-plus students and campus staff with the roll-out of SafeZone technology from CriticalArc.
SafeZone is an integrated safety, security, emergency management, and wellbeing platform for higher education and healthcare. User engagement is higher than traditional solutions. SafeZone enables organisations to respond faster and more effectively to incidents of all sizes. It streamlines day-to-day operations and provides post-incident learnings for continuous improvement of team performance.
SafeZone will make it easy for students to request immediate assistance with a single tap on their smartphones, whether it be to ask for emergency help, report a concern, or access support services.
Users who activate a duress button on the SafeZone app instantly share their identity and location with campus police. First responders are notified in real-time, enabling a coordinated response. The system also initiates two-way communications with the user and first responders, enabling the fastest and most appropriate intervention.
SafeZone’s intuitive interface and user-friendly features make it an accessible tool for every university community member. Whether they are facing medical emergencies, potential threats, or any other hazardous situations, users have peace of mind knowing that help is just a fingertip away.
Functionality also extends beyond the campus boundaries, ensuring that users are protected even when they are off-site. Unlike a typical duress system, SafeZone provides Safety Everywhere, protecting users on campus, participating in athletics or academic events at other locations, or working and travelling abroad.
“We take the safety of our students and staff extremely seriously at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. By integrating the SafeZone platform, we are reinforcing our commitment to providing a secure and supportive campus environment,” said Julian Cavazos, Chief of Police at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “This cutting-edge technology will make our students feel safer, knowing that our police team is always there to assist them.”
Texas A&M University-Kingsville conducts regular drills, training sessions, and security audits to assess and refine emergency response protocols. SafeZone will now be a key enabler for the police department, improving response efficiency, reassuring students, and ensuring the best outcomes in emergency situations.
The university encourages all students, faculty, and staff to download and use the SafeZone application, which is free on iTunes or Google Play stores.
Julian Cavazos adds that by using SafeZone, every member of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville community can become an active participant in fostering a secure, supportive, and welcoming campus:
“By embracing this technology and working together, we can create an environment where students can focus on their academic pursuits, personal development and wellbeing without concerns about safety.”
Darren Chalmers-Stevens, CriticalArc’s Chief Operating Officer, said that the whole Texas A&M University-Kingsville community would benefit from the enhanced safety that SafeZone provides.
“Universities, healthcare providers and major organizations across the U.S. are adopting SafeZone technology, ensuring that they can take better care of their people, respond rapidly to any situation, and deal with any incidents more effectively.”
