CQU Students walking across campus

University of Queensland launches SafeZone

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University of Queensland harnessing mobile tech to improve student & staff safety

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 22 FEBRUARY 2017 – The University of Queensland (UQ) last week launched SafeZone for use by 95,000 students and staff.

As well as optimising response for personal emergencies, SafeZone will improve emergency response and communication during critical incidents such as lock-downs and natural disasters, by sending push notifications to users’ mobile devices.

The SafeZone smartphone app connects students and staff directly to the UQ Security team or emergency services for on-campus first-aid or emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Property and Facilities Director Alan Egan said the app would not only make it easier for UQ Security to respond to emergency situations quickly, but also for the University to alert SafeZone app users about any safety issues on campus.

“Through GPS, the app allows security staff to become aware of someone’s location, talk to them directly and arrange immediate assistance,” he said.

“The app is available any time at UQ’s St Lucia, Gatton and Herston (excluding RBWH) campuses and the Long Pocket, PACE, Pinjarra Hills, Indooroopilly Mine and Moreton Bay Research Station sites, providing the user has mobile phone or wifi coverage.”

SafeZone will improve emergency response and communication during critical incidents such as lockdowns and natural disasters by sending push notifications to users’ mobile devices.

Independent contractors working on campus will also be encouraged to register for SafeZone.

Although SafeZone uses location-based tracking, it does not track a user’s location until an emergency alarm is activated or a call is made for help or first-aid

“When the user is within one of the defined areas, the campus security team will respond to the alarm or call,” Mr Egan said.

If the SafeZone app is activated at sites without 24/7 security – Long Pocket, PACE, Pinjarra Hills, Indooroopilly Mine and Moreton Bay Research Station – it will connect the user directly with emergency services instead of UQ Security.

If SafeZone is activated outside the defined zones the app will dial “000”.

SafeZone will complement existing security infrastructure, including 788 security cameras, 72 emergency call points, a UniSafe night bus service at St Lucia, UniSafe night escorts, 24-hour security patrols and published preferred paths for after-dark travel.

For more information visit www.pf.uq.edu.au/unisafe/uqsafezone.

For more information on CriticalArc and SafeZone go to www.criticalarc.com or https://criticalarc.com/contact/.

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 About CriticalArc

CriticalArc provides SafeZone®, the leading safety, security and emergency management solution that helps large organizations keep their people safe and respond more effectively to critical incidents so they can fulfil their duty of care and mitigate risks. SafeZone fundamentally transforms the ability to manage personal safety, security and emergency situations so organizations can respond consistently and more than 50% faster to protect their most important asset, their people. Through real-time visualization, communications and response coordination, SafeZone has established a new benchmark for organizations to protect their community that streamlines operations, is easy to use and quick to deploy.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, CriticalArc has offices and operations in the UK and North America providing an international delivery capability and reach. For more information on CriticalArc and SafeZone, please go to www.criticalarc.com.

 

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