a reintroduction
Enhancing School Safety
through Technology
Over my 30-year career in public education, I have worn many hats—teacher, coach, administrator, and even school safety director. It was in these roles that I witnessed firsthand how critical it is for schools and other organizations to have effective, accessible emergency plans. Those experiences inspired me to dedicate my life to improving safety preparedness, not just in schools but in businesses and communities as well.
Today, as the CEO and President of Safeguard Risk Solutions, I have the privilege of working with organizations nationwide to develop customized safety solutions.
When we first developed the Emergency Response Plans for my school district, we did not create our plans in a vacuum. We partnered with our county EMA, the Red Cross, our county board of health, area businesses, along with the five fire departments and four law enforcement agencies that served our district. Because our program was funded in part by the US Department of Education through the Readiness and Emergency Management in Schools (REMS) Grant, our plans had to be submitted for approval before we could print our plans and begin training our staff.
Back then, the only option for plan distribution were flip charts. With 34 campuses, 2700 classrooms, 95 administrators, and over 200 buses, our cost for printing was $35,000.00. Thank goodness we had a federal grant. Because our plans were paid for by a federal grant, I was required to share our plans with other schools across the country that wanted to use our plans and flipchart model. Everyone loved the PDF copies I sent them, but not one could afford the cost of printing. It wasn’t till I retired that I started looking for a cost-effective option for schools.
One of the innovations I’m most proud of is the Mobile Emergency Response Plan (MERP) application. The MERP was designed with a simple yet powerful goal: to make emergency preparedness easier, more efficient, and more effective. But it also had to be affordable. This web-based platform allows organizations to create, customize, and update their emergency response plans anytime, anywhere. With MERP, we’ve removed the barriers of outdated, paper-based plans and replaced them with a dynamic, mobile-friendly solution that empowers staff to respond confidently in critical moments.
Here are just a few of the standout features
of the MERP:
Personalized Emergency Response Plan Content
Every organization is unique, and the MERP allows you to tailor your plans to reflect your specific needs and challenges. But your organization does not have to start from scratch. The MERP provides content that you can edit on your own without any additional cost.
Mobile App for All Your Staff
Whether you’re at your desk, on the go, or in the middle of an emergency, the MERP ensures your team has instant access to your emergency plans through computers, tablets, smartphones, or even point-of-sale systems.
The MERP also allows you to upload essential documents, such as building maps, utility shut-off procedures, and individual plans or annexes for specific events, ensuring all critical information is at your fingertips.
And the best part? You can say goodbye to costly printing and manual updates — MERP keeps everything current and accessible, even when the internet is down.
When I developed MERP, my goal was to create a tool that not only enhances safety but also simplifies the process of being prepared. It’s affordable, user-friendly, and designed to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes.
I’m incredibly proud of the impact the MERP has had so far, but I know there is always more we can do. If you’d like to learn more about the MERP or have questions about how Safeguard Risk Solutions can support your safety goals, I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you for your commitment to safety and preparedness. Together, we can create environments where people feel secure and supported, no matter what challenges arise.
Want to Test Drive the MERP for free?
Request access to the MERP by sharing your name and email address below. You will instantly receive login credentials and instructions to access the MERP at no cost through June 30, 2025.
Safeguard Risk Solutions will never share or sell the information you provide.
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