Low Trust In Info & Low Confidence in Vaccine Rollout, New Survey Finds

Rave Mobile Safety’s report highlights what local officials and first responders need to know to address pressing emergency communication challenges
Rave Mobile Safety’s report highlights what local officials and first responders need to know to address pressing emergency communication challenges

Rave Mobile Safety, a critical communication and collaboration platform, recognized with Four Awards in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, have announced their 2021 Emergency Communication and Public Safety Trust Survey findings, which shows a disturbing lack of trust in information from local officials, as well as a lack of confidence in the states’ abilities to successfully distribute the coronavirus vaccine.

Public safety has taken on new meaning in 2021 as local officials and first responders alike are tasked with informing, protecting and responding to residents not just about issues related to the pandemic, but also the everyday emergencies that continue to occur.

To understand some of the emergency communication challenges facing state and local agencies, Rave Mobile Safety partnered with independent research firm Researchscape to field a national survey of more than 1,000 American adults in late 2020 and early 2021.

Key findings of the survey include:

  • Only 22% of respondents completely trust the information they receive from local officials.

  • First responders are more trusted than local officials:

    • 62% of respondents completely trust information from firefighters and 59% completely trust paramedics/EMTs.

      • That level of trust drops for police, with 33% of respondents saying they completely trust information they receive from police, but is still higher than trust in local officials.

  • Only 37% of respondents say they are completely confident or very confident in their state’s ability to successfully distribute the vaccine.

  • Text and phone alerts from local officials are among the most trusted sources of information with 77% of respondents completely trust or somewhat trust those direct alerts.

  • There is an overwhelming willingness to provide personal data that would aid 9-1-1 response. 

    • Notably more than 85% of respondents say they are very or somewhat willing to provide background about themselves and their families, such as medical history and addresses, to first responders if it would aid in a variety of emergencies.

Trust in coronavirus guidelines and vaccine rollout

Only about a third of respondents (31%) say they completely trust updates from local officials about the coronavirus.

While multiple factors contribute to that lack of trust, respondents are most likely to say it is because they don’t trust the facts local officials use to make their recommendations (57%), the recommendations and guidance change too frequently (54%) and that local officials exaggerate the severity of the situation (44%).

The survey also reveals most respondents lack solid knowledge of their state’s plan for vaccine rollout, even as it is already underway:

  • Only 38% of respondents rate their knowledge of their state’s plan for vaccine rollout as excellent or good, and there is a near-even split between those who heard about vaccine rollout in their state (53%) and those who have not (47%).

  • 75% of respondents have some level of confusion about where they fall in their state’s vaccination plans, and only 25% of respondents know exactly where they fall in their state’s rollout.

As public officials continue to communicate with residents on COVID-19 guidelines and vaccine distribution, direct alerts via phone calls and texts to residents emerge as the most trusted way to receive information from local officials:

  • 34% of respondents say that receiving updates the way they choose, like via text, email or phone call, would increase their level of trust.

Rave Vaccine Distribution Solution

Rave Mobile Safety
Click on image above to Download Rave’s infographic today to learn more!

As COVID-19 vaccinations become available across the country, those in charge of the rollout have the overwhelming responsibility of implementing safe and effective distribution.

To aid local and state agencies charged with managing vaccine distribution in their regions Rave Mobile Safety, has introduced its Vaccine Distribution Solution.

(Courtesy of ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning Rave Mobile Safety, who  have now been recognized in Four Consecutive ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, respectively.)

One Solution for Vaccine Communications

The Rave platform can help you coordinate and communicate vaccine distribution plans based on community priorities.

With the Vaccine Distribution Solution, you can:

  • Identify Priority Candidates

    • Use crowd-sourced data through Smart911, a trusted community resource, to surface COVID-19 at-risk populations.

  • Provide Instant Official Updates

    • Keep your community members informed through official multi-modal notifications to reach the right people with the right message around vaccination availability.

  • Track Distribution Progress

    • Keep a running status log of residents still in need of vaccinations by sending out polls or reminders for additional dosages needed.

  • Automate Team Coordination

    • Assign critical tasks or leverage checklists to coordinate vaccine-specific events such as distributing available new dosages.

Todd Piett, CEO at Rave Mobile Safety
Todd Piett, CEO at Rave Mobile Safety

“With Rave, these health and safety agencies have a proven solution to help them through this Herculean effort, effectively source critical data, engage with their communities and ultimately enable a successful rollout,” explains Todd Piett, Rave Mobile Safety CEO.

For example, the State of Louisiana and Suffolk County, New York, are among the thousands of Rave customers leveraging the Rave platform to communicate COVID-19 updates and advisories to residents.

Learn how you can build trust within your community, determine vaccine prioritization, provide ongoing communication, and monitor follow-up with the Rave Vaccine Distribution Solution.

Return to public spaces also brings safety concerns

With vaccination planned for the general population this summer, a return to gatherings brings safety concerns with it in the latter half of 2021.

Most respondents are either very or somewhat concerned about acts of violence as they return to congregating in public spaces.

Public events like concerts and festivals, and locations such as malls and shopping centers, schools and universities are where respondents are most concerned about violence, with 75% or more very and somewhat concerned about acts of violence in each of those places.

Schools and universities are among the places where respondents are concerned about acts of violence—which may signal a shift in focus back to school safety as students return to classrooms on a more regular basis later this year.

For more details on these findings, please download the complete 2021 Emergency Communication and Public Safety Trust Survey here.

This survey was conducted by the independent research firm Researchscape. Respondents were 1,011 individuals aged 18 and above living in the United States. Responses were collected in late December 2020 and early January 2021.

Rave Mobile Safety Recognized with Multiple Awards in Fourth Consecutive ‘ASTORS’ Awards

American Security Today’s ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards program, now in its Sixth Year, continues to recognize the Outstanding Innovations of top firms and agencies in the Homeland Security and Public Safety fields.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

90% of ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners return to compete in the Annual ‘ASTORS‘ Homeland Security Awards Program, and 100% of ‘ASTORS’ Sponsors have returned year to year to reap the benefits of their participation in the industry’s largest and most comprehensive Annual Awards Program.

2020 was a very challenging year for everyone due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the much heralded AST ‘ASTORS’ Awards Winners Presentations and exclusive Luncheon at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC was canceled and rescheduled for 2021 due to the virus.

Mike Madsen, Publisher, American Security Today
Mike Madsen, Publisher, American Security Today

However, the 2020 ‘ASTORS’  Homeland Security Awards Program was again a huge success and many new categories were added including a section for COVID-19 Detection and Innovation.

Rave Mobile Safety (First of Four)

Best Handheld Mobile Device Solution

  • Rave Guardian

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has made businesses, healthcare organizations and universities alike reconsider what employee and student safety really means.

Extend your safety umbrella to people worldwide using mobile phone technology. Rave Guardian offers 24/7 two-way connectivity between security resources and people exposed to risk wherever they are.
Extend your safety umbrella to people worldwide using mobile phone technology. Rave Guardian offers 24/7 two-way connectivity between security resources and people exposed to risk wherever they are.
  • Rave Mobile Safety (Second of Four)However, even in uncertain times, clear communication and quick response can prove effective in any emergency. Businesses, schools and other institutions need easy-to-manage tools to facilitate that, now more than ever.

  • Rave Guardian, a leading custom-branded personal safety app, helps organizations quickly connect and protect employees, students or staff wherever they are located.

  • Rave Guardian allows organizations to communicate directly with different populations by providing two-way communications, safety assistance and resources during an emergency. With the Rave Guardian mobile app, employees, students and others can take a proactive approach to their safety through confidential tip texting, a virtual escort, an emergency call button and other resources that keep them informed.

Mobile team communications apps like Multiple 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winner Rave Mobile Safety, are fast becoming the go-to solution across the spectrum, from small business to major enterprises, and spanning every industry, whether working in a shared workplace or remotely.
Mobile team communications apps like Multiple 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winner Rave Mobile Safety, are fast becoming the go-to solution across the spectrum, from small business to major enterprises, and spanning every industry, whether working in a shared workplace or remotely.
  • The customizable app helps drive engagement, while also providing better protection and information to employees, in both emergency and non-emergency situations, and while traditional communication channels work well during business hours, businesses especially need communication tools that can reach employees at any time.

  • Tools like Rave Guardian are critical amid the reopening process to ensure the safety of employees—who need updates on everything from specific guidance on who can be in the office when to urgent alerts about changes to operations if an employee tests positive for the coronavirus.

  • Without solutions like Rave Guardian, organizations will not be able to effectively reopen and stay open.

Best Mass Notification System (Software)

  • Rave Alert

  • The COVID-19 pandemic proved that the spread of misinformation happens quickly, and that businesses, universities and public agencies alike need to get the right information out to the right people quickly and reliably to get ahead of the spread of bad information.

  • In order to do this, these organizations need a reliable way to communicate effectively with their communities in both emergency and nonemergency situations, often through multiple channels, to ensure that the right message is fully disseminated.

  • Rave Alert, a leading emergency notification solution, is proven to help organizations deliver unlimited messages to unlimited recipients.

  • Rave Alert’s easy-to-use interface speeds up delivery, allowing organizations to reach all recipients quickly through text, email, voice calls, desktop alerts, public address systems, digital signage and more. Organizations trust Rave Alert, knowing it will get the right message to the right user from any internet-connected device in a matter of seconds.

(Hear from higher education CIOs how they have overcame their top challenges and increased efficiencies to support their higher education institutions’ goals. Courtesy of Rave Mobile Safety and YouTube.)

  • Rave Alert has been used throughout the pandemic by numerous states and cities, like Louisiana, Suffolk County, NY and the city of Seattle, and universities like Notre Dame to deliver reliable updates to citizens and students, providing guidance, critical updates and facts during this uncertain time not only to quell fears but to direct their attention to accurate information.

  • State and local governments, businesses, healthcare facilities and higher education institutions across all 50 states trust Rave Alert.

Rave Mobile Safety (Third of Four)

Best Mobile Technology Product

  • Rave Panic Button

  • Used in 47 states across the country, Rave Panic Button is the most widely-used and trusted school safety app.

  • By deploying Rave Panic Button in schools statewide, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Delaware and Washington D.C. are providing equal protection to all their students, teachers and staff, regardless of their district or zip code.

In seconds, the Rave Panic Button app clearly communicates an emergency to 9-1-1, on-site personnel, and first responders. Rave Panic Button shortens response times and improves safety for all those in the immediate area.
  • Rave Panic Button has been credited with expediting emergency response efforts that ultimately saved a student’s life in Oklahoma when she had difficulty breathing at school, and getting immediate medical attention to an athlete who suddenly collapsed on a sports field in Arkansas by alerting a school nurse who was able to give CPR.

  • In seconds, Rave Panic Button clearly communicates an emergency to 9-1-1, on-site personnel and first responders simultaneously, improving communication and decreasing response times. And, as schools across the country weigh reopening plans amid the coronavirus outbreak, Rave Panic Button serves as a critical tool to communicate with teachers and staff, and to check in on their health status.

Rave Panic Button shortens response times and improves safety for all those in the immediate area.
  • In the event of an on-site crisis—from a shooting threat to a medical incident–any authorized user can activate the Rave Panic Button mobile app by pushing one of the five emergency button types.

  • Rather than having a single option to press, users can notify 9-1-1 of a fire, medical emergency, active assailant or other emergencies that require an immediate response. When one of the buttons is pushed, 9-1-1 call takers and first responders can view detailed caller location, floor plans, entrance and exit locations, emergency contacts and key procedures to help coordinate a more effective response.

Rave Mobile Safety (Fourth of Four)

Best Risk, Crisis Management Product

  • Rave Prepare

  • The coronavirus pandemic has impacted vulnerable populations on a massive scale.

  • The elderly, those with respiratory illnesses and others with underlying conditions that put them at greater risk were the hardest hit when the virus surged this spring.

As we navigate the growing surge of COVID cases this winter, public safety agencies will have to again ramp up communications with citizens about the virus. With 2020 Multi-'ASTORS' Award Winner Rave Mobile Safety, your agency can leverage integrated critical communication, data and response capabilities for safer communities.
As we navigate the varying surges of COVID cases, public safety agencies will have to again ramp up communications with citizens about the virus. With 2020 Multi-‘ASTORS’ Award Winner Rave Mobile Safety, your agency can leverage integrated critical communication, data and response capabilities for safer communities.
  • Rave Mobile Safety is the leading provider of critical communication and collaboration technology used to save lives, manage crisis incidents and increase resiliency.Yet often, public safety agencies don’t know the location of these vulnerable populations in their communities, making it difficult to proactively identify and communicate with those at risk and respond to their needs appropriately.

  • Rave Prepare, Rave’s web-based vulnerable needs registry, helps emergency managers, public safety and health leaders understand the individuals most at-risk within a community to enable faster coordination and more efficient communication during a critical event.

  • Rave Prepare enables public safety and health agencies to plan ahead and proactively respond to disasters and other emergencies, including power outages, transportation interruptions, evacuations, community health crises, pandemics and shelter resource planning.

  • As the coronavirus pandemic surged across the country, Rave Prepare was quickly updated to ensure public safety and health agencies had the insight into their communities needed for managing their response to the virus, which includes identifying individuals who are self-quarantined or have pre-existing conditions or are over the age of 65, identifying trends and potential hotspots, and mobilizing resources where needed most.

  • *Rave Mobile Safety was also recognized with Multiple Platinum Award Wins in the 2019, 2018 and 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Programs.

Rave Mobile SafetyFrom major disasters and crisis events to everyday emergencies and operational incidents, the Rave platform enables critical data sharing, mass notification and emergency response coordination.

Over 8,000 first responder, emergency management, 9-1-1, and federal, state and local agencies—as well as corporations, healthcare organizations, universities and schools—all rely on Rave to prepare better, respond faster, recover quicker and mitigate anticipated critical incidents.

Let Rave enable you to do all you can todayTM to keep everyone safe. To Learn More, please visit https://www.ravemobilesafety.com.

The 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program was sponsored by ATI SystemsAttivo NetworksAutomatic SystemsDesktop Alert, X.Labs and Reed Exhibitionsevery one a returning Sponsor from 2020, 2019 and More.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Access Control/ Identification Personal/Protective Equipment Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism
Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System Interagency Interdiction Operation Cloud Computing/Storage Solution
Facial/IRIS Recognition Body Worn Video Product Cyber Security
Video Surveillance/VMS Mobile Technology Anti-Malware
Audio Analytics Disaster Preparedness ID Management
Thermal/Infrared Camera Mass Notification System Fire & Safety
Metal/Weapon Detection Rescue Operations Critical Infrastructure
License Plate Recognition Detection Products And Many Others!
COVID Innovations And Many Others!

 

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Local transmission of the disease has occurred across all fifty states in the America.

With the unprecedented occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the safety and security industries has realized the need to increase innovations to address the daily growing challenges.

As such AST aims to make sure these firms and professionals are reflected in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, so we’d like to encourage you to submit appropriate categories recommendations and include COVID-19 Frontline Professionals in your Nominations to see that these Professionals, Facilities, and Vendors receive the Recognition they Deserve!

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

AST puts forward the Largest and Most Qualified Circulation in Government with Over 75,000 readers on the Federal, State and Local levels.
AST puts forward the Largest and Most Qualified Circulation in Government with Over 75,000 readers on the Federal, State and Local levels.

The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

American Security Today

These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more about the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Check Out the New 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2020 ‘A Year in Review’.

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.

It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2020 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

  • For a complete list of 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, click here.

For more information on All Things American Security Today, and the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

  • Provides named sources
  • Reported by more than one notable outlet
  • Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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