The deadline is fast approaching for Central Florida schools to apply for state funding that would give them a new safety tool.An expert says it is crucial school districts don’t pass up on the life-saving technology. The Florida Department of Education has $14 million for schools to implement the new technology called Emergency Response Mapping Data.”It is a valuable lifesaving tool,” said Ivo Allen, a security tech and mapping expert.Allen is the founder and CEO of 911inform. The company uses the technology in schools, houses of worship, and other public spaces.If Florida schools use the tool in their buildings, it would help first responders get to an issue faster. “Any type of building is a maze,” Allen said. “When you have an emergency, or you have something going on, having these first responders have situational awareness or know where that person is in that building is critical.”If there were a crisis like a mass shooting, someone would call 911 then the dispatcher would use the tool to access a map of the school and see where the caller is located.”It’s saying, ‘OK, they’re at this school, they’re in the gym, the northwest corner of it,'” Allen said. “It saves a dramatic amount of time. But when you think about the mapping, everyone is focused on the mass shootings… This is used for dispatchers every single day.”WESH 2 reached out to Central Florida public school districts to find out if they applied or if they plan to apply for the state grant. Polk County Public Schools and Osceola County Public Schools will apply for the funding. Volusia and Marion Counties are considering it. “Why wouldn’t you do it? It’s going to save lives,” Allen said. ” you have a child you have a faculty staff member that’s having a medical emergency, you’re going to reduce the response time with this technology.”The deadline for schools to apply is Sept. 15.
The deadline is fast approaching for Central Florida schools to apply for state funding that would give them a new safety tool.
An expert says it is crucial school districts don’t pass up on the life-saving technology.
The Florida Department of Education has $14 million for schools to implement the new technology called Emergency Response Mapping Data.
“It is a valuable lifesaving tool,” said Ivo Allen, a security tech and mapping expert.
Allen is the founder and CEO of 911inform. The company uses the technology in schools, houses of worship, and other public spaces.
If Florida schools use the tool in their buildings, it would help first responders get to an issue faster.
“Any type of building is a maze,” Allen said. “When you have an emergency, or you have something going on, having these first responders have situational awareness or know where that person is in that building is critical.”
If there were a crisis like a mass shooting, someone would call 911 then the dispatcher would use the tool to access a map of the school and see where the caller is located.
“It’s saying, ‘OK, they’re at this school, they’re in the gym, the northwest corner of it,'” Allen said. “It saves a dramatic amount of time. But when you think about the mapping, everyone is focused on the mass shootings… This [tool] is used for dispatchers every single day.”
WESH 2 reached out to Central Florida public school districts to find out if they applied or if they plan to apply for the state grant.
Polk County Public Schools and Osceola County Public Schools will apply for the funding.
Volusia and Marion Counties are considering it.
“Why wouldn’t you do it? It’s going to save lives,” Allen said. “[If] you have a child [or] you have a faculty staff member that’s having a medical emergency, you’re going to reduce the response time with this technology.”
The deadline for schools to apply is Sept. 15.
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