Virginia Tech Police say a new public safety app LiveSafe ?(iTunes,?Android) is producing results after just three months of use.?It?already has more than 1,700 subscribers.
If the Live-Safe app would have been available on the Virginia Tech campus on April 16, 2007 (see our blog about the shooting inciddent) – it would have been able to tell anyone who subscribed to it exactly what to do, where not to go and how to instantly get in touch with campus security.
“For instance if we ask the campus to shelter in place or secure in place… or if there’s a tornado warning… with a couple of swipes of the app it will provide that information of what type of actions they need to take as a community,” said?Virginia Tech’s Director of Emergency Management, Michael Mulhair.
Key functions include maps of danger zones, emergency phones and reported crime locations. It also has a unique feature that allows a virtual escort when traveling alone.
Sophomore?Abbey Mules, doesn’t have the app, yet, but does plan on getting it soon.?”If I go to the library late at night, walking back… you never know and it’s better to be safe. There’s so many features on it like a map of the school and everything… so it can’t hurt to have it,” said Mules.
While the decision to add the free app to campus safety did carry sentimental value – having been co-developed by VT shooting survivor, Kristina Anderson, it was not adopted as a result of the tragedy as much as it was a result of the change in times.
“We realized there is a segment of the community that likes to communicate that way. They no longer want to pick up a phone, make a phone call and talk to a live person. They’re more comfortable dealing with a text,” said Virginia Tech Police Chief, Kevin Foust. Foust?says the department has already received a number of good tips that have helped on campus security as well as criminal issues in Blacksburg – where some of the tips originate. He says the ability for people to stay anonymous has helped lead to this early success.
Take a look at the?video?to see how it works
Sources: WSet, LiveSafeMobile