Guest Editorial by Todd Miller, SVP of Strategic Programs, Rave Mobile Safety
The pandemic has put a lot of stress on families – with kids learning at home instead of at school, work also moving into the home, job losses, and economic uncertainty.
Culminated together, these stresses can be a lot for anyone to handle and has led to an uptick in violent incidents according to several reports.
While domestic violence is not a new problem, it has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Given its prevalence in every community, and impact on all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality, communities must ensure they have the resources to appropriately help victims.
(Every 60 seconds, 20 people fall victim to domestic violence in the United States. Join the fight for change by giving the victims of domestic violence a voice that can be heard. Courtesy of Rave Mobile Safety and YouTube.)
Fortunately, there are tools and technologies available that can support victims, while also protecting their privacy.
In honor of domestic violence awareness month, here are a few steps communities can take to help victims get the resources and support they need.
Empower victims with communication channels to get help
Approximately 2 million injuries occur each year as a result of domestic violence, and can range from physical injuries like fractures, bruises and internal bleeding, to mental health issues, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sometimes getting help can make the difference between life or death.
However, not every victim is able to call 9-1-1 to report incidents for fear of retaliation or because they are in a situation in which they can’t speak.
If an individual calls for emergency resources and is unable to talk on the phone, agency personnel can use new technologies to initiate a two-way conversation through a text message to collect information and dispatch appropriate resources.
For example, after a call to 9-1-1 was disconnected, a dispatcher quickly texted the number to make sure everything was alright.
Within minutes, the caller texted back that her boyfriend was acting up and she wasn’t able to speak on the phone for fear of her safety.
After getting the caller’s location and other important information about the incident, dispatchers were able to get law enforcement to the scene and ensure the caller was returned to safety.
Text messaging allows victims to communicate silently while enabling emergency responders to maintain a connection with them and collect actionable intelligence to assist first responders as they arrive on the scene.
This also helps identify the background of a silent call, distinguishing whether it was an accidental dial, poor reception or if a person is being held against their will and can’t communicate if they need assistance.
Providing domestic violence victims with a way to contact agencies through text messaging helps them feel safer when reaching out for support.
It can enable them to create a connection to emergency assistance and the outside world, especially if they’re isolated from others, and empower them to get help when it’s needed most.
Put a safety profile system in place
Another way communities can increase awareness of domestic violence in their communities is by implementing a safety profile system and encouraging residents to sign up.
Domestic violence shelters and services are great locations to introduce these services to those in need.
With a tool like this, individuals can create a free safety profile and securely share it with public safety agencies.
They can include information such as protection orders, a photograph, and a description of their aggressor, as well as their address so police officers can quickly locate them if they can’t speak with emergency responders.
Victims can also assign a PIN or safe word to their safety profiles, so responders can request it during an emergency call.
If the caller gives an incorrect PIN, it may indicate the person wasn’t able to communicate freely and allows public safety personnel to enact the proper response.
These safety profiles are also useful because they can serve as a log of past incidents for first responders.
Since profiles are secure, information about past incidents would only show should the victim associated with the profile dial into 9-1-1.
For example, emergency personnel can take notes about a domestic violence situation, such as whether the aggressor keeps a gun in the home and information about previous interactions.
Having all of this information from victims readily available helps emergency responders understand the situation better so they can respond accordingly.
Having this type of information available to law enforcement can be critical.
Not only can law enforcement better protect individuals that are victims of domestic violence, but it can also help protect the first responders.
Domestic violence responses are some of the most dangerous calls that law enforcement gets—having better situational awareness helps protect these responders and can yield much better results.
(Learn how to sign up or and more about Smart911, go to www.smart911.com. Courtesy of Rave Mobile Safety and YouTube.)
Offer resources and support
Domestic violence is a challenging cycle to break, as victims usually struggle whether to reach out for support out of fear and are physically and/or emotionally isolated.
Communities should encourage victims to speak up and seek help when possible, as well as have a publicly available database that can direct them toward appropriate resources, such as counseling or abuse hotlines.
In addition to focusing on these external resources, communities must also do their part by putting certain systems and tools in place that give victims the ability to report incidents and get support at a local level.
Only when victims feel they have the support and resources they need will they feel empowered to report and stop the cycle of violence.
Public safety agencies can take proactive steps to give victims the resources and support they need in their communities
About the Author
Todd Miller is the SVP of Strategic Programs at Rave Mobile Safety.
Prior to joining Rave, Todd managed the self-service consulting Practice at Oracle where he was responsible for the delivery of customized software solutions for clients in North America, supporting millions of users.
At Oracle he was awarded recognition as a member of Oracle’s top 10% in Consulting. Todd’s previous experience includes leading consulting teams for Siebel and eDOCS in North America, Europe, and Australia.
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