One Platform, Every Emergency: How to Manage Student Safety
Even outside of National Safety Month, it’s always a good time to reflect on how your school handles emergencies. Maybe you read about a district that completely transformed its safety protocols and now runs smoother, faster drills. Or maybe after a recent drill on your campus, you noticed things felt a little unorganized and stressful.
Either way, it’s clear: now is the time to find a more efficient way to manage student safety and support your staff in emergencies.
With over 70% of public schools reporting one or more incidents of crime in 2020, building a strong culture of safety is more critical than ever. While we’ve previously shared six ways schools can improve emergency preparedness. In this blog, we’re focusing on one simple and powerful tool that can help you keep students safe during any type of emergency.
Stratus-io: Emergency Headcount
Get a personalized demo and try Stratus-io free for 30 days. You may qualify for a free RFID reader when you come on board.
Why Schools Need a Better Way to Manage Student Safety
Incident after incident. Disaster after disaster. Every day, more students are worried about their safety at school.
They’re asking themselves, “Will I be next?” when really, they should be wondering, “What college do I want to go to?”
When students are preoccupied with fear, it affects everything—from their emotional wellbeing to their academic performance. That constant worry makes it harder for them to focus on what really matters: their education.
According to 2022 data, U.S. public schools reported over 857,000 violent incidents, with 67 percent of campuses experiencing at least one. That number should be a wake-up call and a clear reason why schools need a better way to manage student safety.
Yes, preparing for the school year is important. Teachers plan lessons, decorate classrooms, and get ready for day one.
But none of it means anything if students don’t feel safe walking through the front doors.
Success Story: How One School Mastered Emergency Drills
In Londonderry, New Hampshire, a quiet suburban town outside of Manchester, school safety wasn’t always guaranteed.
Back in the early 2000s, the Londonderry School District faced a series of bomb threats. At first, the district responded with basic evacuation procedures. Students were sent home, buildings were cleared, and that was it. But after the third threat, the message was clear: this wasn’t enough.
The district stepped up and began investing in school safety technology. Cameras were installed. Entry points were locked down. A visitor management system was introduced, requiring every guest to sign in at the front desk, and wear a visible pass. Walkie-talkies allowed staff to communicate instantly across schools, and law enforcement became an active partner in emergency planning and drills.
However, after the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Londonderry pushed even further. They implemented an emergency alert system that let any administrator send an immediate notification to local police with just one click. SMS-style alerts connected staff and responders, reducing response delays and ensuring clear communication across campuses.
Today, Londonderry runs emergency drills with confidence. Communication is quick. Response is fast. Accountability is clear. Their partnership with police is stronger than ever.
The truth is, no district can afford to rely on outdated systems. Walkie-talkies and static drills can only go so far. Today’s emergencies move quickly, and schools need software that moves even faster.
Manage Student Safety Today!
Whether you manage an elementary school or a large district, our software helps you enhance emergency preparedness.
One Platform, Every Emergency
So, you’ve made it this far into the blog and you’ve come to realize that an emergency management system is needed for school emergencies. But an “emergency” can come in all shapes and forms. There are endless types of emergencies.
So you begin to wonder, how can one platform handle all emergencies?
Here is a list of common school emergencies and how Stratus io: Emergency Management can help you during a crisis.
Natural Disasters
There’s a hurricane warning. All students and staff have reported to the nearest safe location. Teachers are checking names. Admins are reviewing headcounts. Then suddenly, the power goes out. The right emergency management software will have offline capabilities. This means that even if your school loses power, staff can still check students in, track who is safe, and get real-time updates.
Chemical Spill
Let’s say a student accidentally knocks over a container during a lab experiment. A chemical spill spreads across the floor, and the classroom needs to be cleared immediately. Students nearby need to evacuate fast, while others on campus may need to shelter in place.
Stratus io helps you keep track of who was in the danger zone, who evacuated, and who still needs help – all from your phone or tablet.
Fire in the Building
Mr. Smith’s chemistry class is once again experimenting with flammable liquids. Usually, it’s nothing, just a small warning and the fire alarm. But what if the fire spreads?
Now the entire building is being evacuated. With over 400 students, how do you make sure everyone makes it out safely?
With Stratus io, anyone with a badge or mobile device can check in once they reach the muster point. Teachers and admins can instantly see who is safe, who is missing, and where they were last seen. No paper rosters. No chaos.
Active Shooter
We’ve all seen the news. Active shooter situations are something every school must take seriously. Whether it turns out to be a real threat or a false alarm, every second counts.
With Stratus io, administrators can send instant alerts through email or text message. These SMS-style notifications let staff and muster captains know what’s happening, whether the school is on lockdown, if certain buildings are clear, or when it’s safe to move.
Stratus-io: Emergency Headcount
So what exactly makes Stratus io different from your typical drill procedures or paper rosters?
Take a look at the key features built to help your school manage student safety more efficiently during any emergency:
Ready to Manage Student Safety More Efficiently?
From hurricanes to lockdown situations, emergencies come in all forms. But the solution doesn’t have to be complicated. Stratus-io gives your school one simple platform to stay organized when it matters most.
Plus, you can pair it with powerful tools from Serialio — like the idChamp® NF4x wireless RFID badge reader. Even better? You may qualify for a free reader when you get started with Stratus io.
We know that it’s one thing to read about software, and another thing to see how it works. That’s why we put together a short video to help you visualize exactly how Stratus io: Emergency Headcount can support your school through any type of emergency.
Watch now to see what Stratus-io can do for your school.
Cloud-In-Hand® Solution Team
This blog reflects the expertise of the Cloud-In-Hand® Solution Team with over 100 years of experience in hardware, software, and firmware development. Since founding Solutions Consulting in 1992, now known as Serialio LTD, the Solution Team has designed and developed many innovative solutions. Cloud-In-Hand® Stratus-io Time and Attendance, helps organizations like Apple, Google, Toshiba, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and many more, streamlining their operations.
