Just a week after Apalachee High School staff received wearable panic buttons for the new academic year, these devices were utilized to notify authorities about a shooting that tragically claimed the lives of two students and two teachers.

According to officials, the panic buttons contributed to the rapid response from law enforcement. The police caught the shooter at 10:26 a.m. on Wednesday, only moments after the emergency call was made, as reported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

GBI Director Chris Hosey noted that the school’s procedures and this alert system “activated today prevented this from being a much larger tragedy.”

Companies such as Centegix, which manufactured the alert system used at Apalachee High School, have seen a surge in demand in recent years due to increased calls for security technology in educational institutions. Although supporters acknowledge the device’s role in prompting quick responses from the police, security analysts emphasize that reactive measures alone cannot fully avert incidents like the one that occurred in Winder, Georgia.

What You Should Know About Centegix

There are primarily two types of panic alert systems utilized in educational settings, according to Nikita Ermolaev, a research engineer at IPVM, a publication focusing on the surveillance sector. One type connects directly to an application on teachers’ smartphones, while the other offers a physical, wearable button.

The wearable button was the option provided at Apalachee High School. Centegix, a prominent Atlanta-based company, supplies school districts with these cloud-based alert buttons that can be worn.

The purpose of the button is to accelerate assistance during emergencies. If a teacher requires urgent help for a medical situation or a behavioral issue, such as a conflict between students, hitting the Centegix device three times sends alerts to local administrators. In the 2023-2024 school year, these “everyday emergencies” accounted for approximately 99% of all alerts, as indicated by a company report.

In cases where a staff member suspects an intruder or shooter on campus, repeatedly pressing the button will notify both on-site and off-site responders, including 911 dispatchers. Centegix claims that the precise location of the alert is communicated to responders on a digital map, allowing them to see where assistance is required in real time. This system also triggers strobe lights and takes over monitors and intercoms, alerting students and staff to the presence of an intruder.

This system significantly reduces “critical minutes in response time” that might be lost with conventional phone- and voice-activated alert systems, the company states on its website.

Tools like Centegix’s CrisisAlert System have gained popularity in recent years, particularly as advocates and lobbyists lobby for school safety legislation across multiple states. A significant factor driving this push has been the state-by-state efforts to pass Alyssa’s Law.

Alyssa’s Law, named after 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, mandates public schools to install silent panic alarms connected to law enforcement.

As reported by Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit organization advocating for this legislation, seven states have enacted Alyssa’s law: New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, and Oklahoma. While some states mandate public schools to install these silent panic alarms, others stipulate that schools must explore this technology.

Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa’s mother and the founder of Make Our Schools Safe, expressed her belief that the wearable panic buttons utilized at Apalachee High School were “critical” in aiding law enforcement’s response.

“The wearable panic button was crucial in helping law enforcement to arrive quickly, neutralize the shooter, and ultimately save lives,” Alhadeff mentioned in a written statement.

Centegix reports that over 600,000 individuals across 43 states use its alert badge on a daily basis, and 80% of public schools in Georgia have adopted this system.

A Focus on Reaction

According to Ermolaev of IPVM, alert button systems have seen a rapid increase in popularity over the years. With Centegix being identified by local law enforcement as a pivotal element in the response to the incident at Apalachee High School, Ermolaev anticipates a dramatic increase in sales for the company.

However, some experts in security express worries that schools might over-rely on this technology.

Ermolaev clarified that this system is merely “one potential component of the security strategy.”

“Most of the time, it’s not a preventative measure; it’s a responsive one,” Ermolaev stated. “It’s likely to decrease the number of injuries, but it won’t stop someone from bringing a firearm onto campus in the first place.”

Furthermore, the technology within these alert systems can have its limitations. For instance, while Centegix’s buttons operate independently of cellular networks or Wi-Fi, other systems do not. The Department of Justice has noted that inadequate reception at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, is “well documented,” and not all teachers received the emergency alerts during a mass shooting event in 2022.

The financial implications of alert systems can also be substantial. Schools typically face an expense of around $8,000 annually for Centegix’s system. In February, the company reported a doubling of both its recurring revenue and customer base for the third straight year.

As for whether these devices are a wise investment, it varies by school, according to Kenneth Trump, president of the National School Safety and Security Services, a consulting firm in Cleveland that specializes in education security. Trump asserts that instead of a “one-size-fits-all” method for addressing safety issues, schools should create tailored strategies that utilize their current infrastructure and safety protocols.

“Avoid making rash funding or policy decisions,” Trump advised. Schools should base their choices “on a thorough evaluation of their needs and the best use of limited resources.”

Dewey Cornell, a professor of education at the University of Virginia and director of the Virginia Youth Violence Project, promotes a “balanced approach” to school safety. This includes students actively participating in safety measures, such as providing multiple channels for reporting concerns and conducting immediate interviews with students and parents when there are worries regarding potential violence.

With many schools “short-staffed and overwhelmed,” Cornell emphasized that districts cannot merely “install a simple solution” and expect it to work effectively.

“Preventive measures need to start well before a firearm is brought to school. We cannot and shouldn’t depend on panic buttons alone to prevent violence,” he stated. “Focusing on costly security measures misplaces our resources and diverts attention away from engaging with students directly.”

Brent Cobb, the CEO of Centegix, mentioned that the company’s efforts to lessen negative outcomes during emergencies “must be paired with established protocols and training.” In Georgia, a law requires schools to conduct annual intruder alert rehearsals and maintain safety plans.

“Regular training to establish instinctive reactions in emergencies is crucial to unify people with the technology,” Cobb remarked. “The commitments made by Georgia’s leadership in recent years have significantly contributed to these mitigation efforts.”