Preventing Domestic Violence with Emergency Communication Tools
1 out of every 7 women and 1 out of every 25 men has experienced intimate partner violence. Regardless of the level of education and attempted prevention, an average of 20 people experience domestic violence every minute in the U.S.
As a safety technology company, we have asked ourselves what we can do to increase preventative measures and, when all else fails, ensure that help arrives quicker for victims.
Today, we want to examine this extremely difficult topic and explore ways in which Rave Mobile Safety can assist DV victims.
Domestic violence isn’t just assault
Approximately 4.5 million women in the United States have experienced gun violence threats, and almost 1 million women have been shot or shot at by a partner or spouse.
Additionally, 76% of femicide victims experienced stalking within the 12 months prior to their homicide.
Of all women killed by guns in high-income countries in 2019, 91.6% of those women were residing in the U.S. at the time of their death.
Domestic violence has a large impact on mental health. It’s estimated that between 21-60% of victims will lose their jobs directly due to reasons stemming from the abuse.
With these troubling statistics, the first question most will ask is: “What can be done?”
Ways you can help prevent domestic violence
Much of the time, domestic violence flies under the radar, which is part of the reason it is so prevalent. There are intricacies involved in intimate partner violence that often do not exist in many cases of aggravated assault, even when the victim and assailant knew each other.
One of the most important things we can do to prevent domestic violence is to both know the signs, and know what actions to take should we discover someone is the victim of intimate partner violence.
Signs of domestic violence
Though this is not a black-and-white situation, there are clear signs that may point to abuse or potential abuse within relationships.
- One partner is jealous of the other’s friends
- One partner extremely limits time spent apart
- Financial control (one partner makes all financial decisions)
- Guilt tripping and gaslighting
- Intentionally damaging the other partner’s property
- Threats of violence
- Insulting/demeaning a partner in front of others
- Violent behavior stemming from anger
What to do if you suspect someone is being abused
Sometimes, a friend or loved one may confide in you that they are suffering abuse. In these situations, it is best to create a safety plan with them before contacting police.
It’s vital to contact authorities with the person’s consent, as they may suffer more abuse should their partner discover authorities were involved.
However, if you cannot speak directly with the victim yet, there are some things you can do. If you are near the person (such as a next door neighbor) when the abuse is happening, your best course of action is to interrupt during episodes by asking to borrow an item or something else that’s innocuous. Secondly, you can reach out to local or state domestic violence agencies to get education on more ways you can help. You can find a list of agencies here.
How Rave is helping victims of intimate partner violence
Rave Mobile Safety wants to ensure that, in cases where domestic violence does occur, victims have access to help quickly and simply. Recently, in Jalisco, Mexico, panic buttons were found to have helped save over 500 women from perilous domestic violence incidences.
Our Rave 911 Suite provides 911 teams, first responders, and emergency managers with the powerful tools and capabilities necessary to respond to emergencies quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
When using the Suite, authorities have access to:
Critical 9-1-1 Caller Info
View the caller’s name and address, medical conditions, photos and more through Smart911 or use notes to identify frequent callers.
Two-Way Communications
Initiate two-way text messaging and live-streaming video from first responders and bystanders on scene.
Enhanced Location Data
Supplement existing ALI information with improved e911 location tracking and access facility information, such as floor plans.
Access & Functional Needs Registry
Connect to a web-based, resident-sourced access and functional needs population registry anytime for analysis, planning and emergency response.
Our SmartAccounts are available to everyone, allowing a safer, more efficient way for the proper authorities to communicate with and handle domestic violence cases. Effective communication could mean the difference between life and death for victims of intimate partner violence.
Decrease domestic violence and its consequences in your community
Rave Mobile Safety’s platform can help emergency responders address domestic violence situations. With tools such as Rave 911 Suite and Rave Link, a victim of domestic violence or anyone under a threat can alert authorities — and emergency response teams can have a quicker, more efficient, and more cohesive response.
If you’re in emergency maintenance or looking to improve community safety and would like to learn more about Rave Mobile Safety, please go here to explore our products.
