New Smartphone App Creates Community Response Service
The state of police work in the U.S. continues to be called into question. Due to major budget cutbacks amid a worsening economy, many areas have been left with part-time police and 911 response. And even if available, the wait times can be life threatening.
Moreover, the police who do show up are often of a completely different mindset than the police of yesteryear. An increasingly militarized police force can show up to an emergency response call as though it is territory to be invaded and occupied. The stories are legion of police killing the owner who called, shooting their pets, or basically laying waste to their home. In fact, the growth of the police state is one of the greatest threats that each of us might encounter as we go about our day-to-day lives.
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People are beginning to look to technology as a possible solution. A new app called Peacekeeper encourages connectivity with your neighbors, family and friends in order to establish a response network filled with people who already have earned your trust. Please read their press release and see their video below. Tell us what you think – is this a viable decentralized solution that can restore self-reliance and community strength? Please leave your comments.
Press Release – Peacekeeper, a community-based emergency response Smartphone app, cuts emergency response times by relying on nearby neighbors. When a user is in an emergency, the app notifies neighbors, friends and family and gives them the chance to be first responders. The system enables individuals to easily send, receive, and respond to emergency alerts. The design of the app gives users the ability to get the help they need when seconds count the most.
In an emergency, response time is critical. By relying on neighbors across the street rather than police across town, Peacekeeper can dramatically reduce the wait time for help to arrive.
The four types of Peacekeeper alerts are Medical, Fire, Intruder and Abduction. Alerts contain detailed information about the emergency so that the recipients know where to find the person and what to expect when they arrive. Responders and victims can communicate in real-time via the built-in chat feature.
“The Peacekeeper app is designed to change how people think and feel about emergency response by building tools, relationships and training that empower individuals to take action within their own communities,” says Cody Drummond, the app’s founder. “This has the potential to dramatically reduce assault, improve security and improve safety in neighborhoods around the world.”
For medical emergencies, responders can provide users with the support they need during a crisis or serve as an intermediary until professional help arrives. For instance, if a child falls unconscious, a family member can quickly send a medical alert to the people in their private emergency response group. Neighbors who know CPR or have medical training arrive within seconds and save a life.
“We hope an emergency never happens, but if it does, Peacekeeper alerts the important people who are motivated and ready to respond with one touch of a button,” explains Drummond. Peacekeeper users have two layers of protection: their Emergency Response Group (ERG) and their Alliance.
ERG’s consist of the neighbors that you choose to be in your network. Alliances are designated family and friends who may be geographically further away, yet, are likely to act quickly in an emergency.
Thanks to a successful beta test period, the app now has users in all 50 United States and over 20 foreign countries.
The Peacekeeper app is built to call responders to your home. As the network grows and users begin to establish trusted reputations, Peacekeeper plans to implement features that allow users to send alerts from any location for emergency response wherever they go.
The app is available in Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play for $0.99.
Peacekeeper is dedicated to building and implementing systems and tools that will bring peace and security to neighborhoods around the world. Visit them on the web at Peacekeeper.org
Hat Tip: TechSwarm
