July/August/September 2020 I 47
Wireless Communication: The First Line
of Defense for Schools and First Responders
By Jim Lilienfeld
Over the years, the public has had to cope with fatal active shooter events at schools throughout the nation. There
have been at least 180 K-12 school shootings in the U.S. since 2009
1
with 356 victims serving as a somber
reminder that action must be taken to prevent further tragedies.
Following a stark increase in school shootings, states have implemented laws and requirements to protect
students and staff, encouraging them to monitor for warning signs from their peers. School districts are leveraging
not only behavioral analysis to prevent future school shootings, but also significant changes in school safety
measures that include implementing the design and communication of new technologies. The main goal is to keep
students, staff, police, EMS, and other responders safe, whether using facial recognition capable devices, security
surveillance systems, automated door locks or other wireless communication services. Orian Research projects
by 2025 that the public safety wireless communication market will reach over $2.2 billion.
2
This article explores advanced public safety technologies and relevant codes and standards in schools with
a special focus on the critical role of wireless technologies. It is especially relevant today for ICT designers,
installers, and integrators as many districts are using school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
to expedite public safety system installations for when students return.
