FRAMINGHAM, Mass., June 13, 2019 (BUSINESS WIRE) — 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.
