This device could save your child’s life in a school shooting
DEARING, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Saturday marked the anniversary of the tragedy that hit Columbine High School back in 1999.
Two students killed 12 of their classmates and a teacher in one of the most high-profile mass shootings in American history.
On Thursday, two different Richmond County Schools reported weapons found on campus.
However several of our school districts are now using panic alert systems.
Richmond, Columbia and McDuffie counties all have a similar system in place.
It may just look like a badge, but to school districts like McDuffie County, it’s a reminder that when it comes to school safety, seconds matter.
With several clicks on their lanyard, they can shut down the school and sound the alarm that help is on the way.
In 2019, a district-wide safety grant gave McDuffie County school staff a new accessory.
“It is part of our dress code, essentially and all staff wear their Centegix badge every day, all day long,” said Stacy Amerson, principal of Dearing Elementary.
The system that resembles a credit card is called Centegix.
“This Centegix system has just been a very succinct, very quick way for us to respond to any concerns, medical concerns, discipline concerns or anything, you know, intruder concerns,” said Amerson.
Leaders say the white card is saving time and lives.
“Our times are dependent upon the nature of the threat. It takes over computers that come over the strobe system. We can even use this for our tornado, and severe weather alert drills,” said Amerson.
Three clicks of the badge signal a medical emergency and eight clicks call for an entire lockdown.
As soon as this happens, medical personnel are able to directly locate where the threat may be.
“Both of our school and within the district, there’s been medical emergencies that have necessitated the use of the synthetic system. The great thing about the interface of this system is that we have it on our phones as well as on our desktops as well as the ability to activate an alert here. When an alert is activated, a map pops up. So I can pull up my cell phone, if I’m sitting at my desk, it will take over my computer and it will show the exact location where the personnel press the button,” said Amerson.
While the bill to make a panic system a requirement in all Georgia Public Schools failed this year, Centegix says 80% of Georgia schools have this system.
The system even provides a training mode to help students learn the drills.
“We’re not scared, we’re prepared. We know what to do that allowed us to use this system to show our students and our staff how it takes over what it says what our response needs to be,” said Amerson.
In order for Alyssa’s Law to take effect, it will have to be reintroduced in the Georgia legislature and both the Senate and the House.
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