Illinois Schools Install Blue Emergency Boxes

Illinois Schools Install Blue Emergency Boxes

Worried about gun violence, 20 Illinois schools install emergency boxes that notify police.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • September 19, 2018

Schools in Illinois have installed bright blue emergency pull boxes marked, "Police" on the walls of their hallways. The fixtures, campus security professionals from the schools say, are to help students connect with first responders in the event of an active assailant.

More than 20 schools have installed the BluePoint alert systems, many in the Chicago suburbs. One of the schools, St. Benedict's Preparatory School on the North Side is training their students to use the pull stations, located throughout the campus if an unauthorized person with malicious intent gains access.

"[Students] really, sadly, are aware of this possibility," Rachel Gemo, head of school at St. Ben's said. "They are not immune to what they hear on TV."

Students, faculty, and staff can activate the system by removing a pull station's clear plastic cover, then pushing its lever in and then down. That sequence triggers a complex alert system, sending a signal to BluePoint and to police. Some school staffers can trigger the alert system using special fobs they wear around their necks, similar to car keys.

This year alone, close to 60 incidents of gunfire have taken place on U.S. school grounds, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit working to reduce U.S. gun violence. Not every incident results in injury or death, the organization notes, but these shootings can have a profound effect on children and teenagers.

"The effects of gun violence extend far beyond those struck by a bullet: gun violence shapes the lives of the millions of children who witness it, know someone who was shot, or live in fear of the next shooting," St. Ben's website says.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular