When emergencies arise at schools, people must remain calm because panic clouds judgment, increases stress, and delays sound decision-making. Although fear is a natural response, it should never prevent students, teachers, parents, and the community from acting responsibly. Instead, they should immediately seek help from authorities and follow established safety protocols to protect everyone involved.
The Early Childhood Education and Care Department reminds New Mexicans to use a tool that helps address school emergencies. Rave Panic Button, a mobile application, was designed to quickly alert authorities and notify all on-site staff of an emergency. The app signals the need for immediate assistance during an active shooter, medical emergency, fire, or other crisis on campus.
When activated, the Panic Button immediately contacts authorities and provides emergency responders with the program’s location and incident type. It simultaneously notifies all staff on-site, allowing them to begin emergency response protocols without delay. The app reduces response times by improving staff coordination and giving first responders critical information before they arrive.
During an emergency, the time between an incident and an organized response creates the greatest safety risk. It also increases the cognitive burden on staff as they coordinate emergency efforts while caring for children.
“A single tap collapses that gap,” according to ECECD.
How New Mexico Adopted the Panic Button
The Panic Button boosts safety communication before, during, and after an emergency. Users can activate the application with a single push during any type of crisis. The app speeds response times, improves collaboration, and increases situational awareness both on and off the facility.
The Governor’s Office partnered with key members of the legislature to secure funding for this critical safety initiative. As a result, the state made the Panic Button available at no cost to K-12 public schools and early childhood education centers in New Mexico.
In 2020, New Mexico deployed the Rave Panic Button in all K-12 schools across the state. The rollout made New Mexico one of the states to join Oklahoma, Delaware, and Louisiana in implementing the system statewide.
Rave provides the only fully interoperable, 9-1-1 integrated, FirstNet-listed Panic Button platform. It connects emergency services, 9-1-1 systems, and multi-jurisdictional first responder agencies through a single school safety solution. The Panic Button coordinates every step of an emergency response, from the initial alert until officials issue the all-clear.
