SafetyCare® Reduces Costly False Alarms

HACKENSACK, N.J. – March 22, 2006 – One of the biggest challenges of law enforcement in regard to residential security these days is false alarms. There have been reports in some communities that nearly 99 percent of all alarms are false.

False alarms impact public safety and are costly to any community. In 2003, more than 22,000 false alarm calls were answered in Seattle, taking officers away from dealing with real crime, at a cost of $1.3 million, according to Seattle officials.

“Many communities have been charging high fines for responding to false alarms and some larger cities are writing laws that will preclude authorities from responding to alarm signals that are not verified,” said Mike Ostrander, Detective, of Adams County, CO. “There are only so many law enforcement and life-safety first responders available.”

SafetyCare, which provides home safety and security monitoring with other critical services, such as family counseling and health care support, offers specific technology and services designed to reduce the volume of false alarms.

The company delivers home security monitoring and family safety from one reliable source by placing first-responder personnel in instant contact with its Members via two-way voice communication. The company allocates a substantial proportion of the alarm monitoring fees it receives to provide a greater measure of security, safety and – for the first time ever – personal wellness coverage for its Members.

“Nobody wants a real event dispatch to be delayed because personnel are responding to false alarms,” said Larry Medina, Deputy Sheriff, also of Adams County. “They are a headache for consumers and law enforcement agencies alike.”

Unfortunately, to save on the false alarm fees levied by a growing number of communities, many homeowners have elected to simply deactivate their alarm system to avoid the hassle and cost.

“That can be an even more costly mistake,” said Glenn Fischer, president and CEO, SafetyCare.

For example, in affluent Bergen County, N.J., a 2002 study revealed that 42 percent of “actual burglaries” occurred in homes where there was an alarm system. But, the homeowners did not have them turned on.

A proven solution is SafetyCare’s two-way-voice verification system, in which the homeowner and the dispatcher speak to each other via two-way speakers in the home. Emergencies and non-emergencies are verified immediately, greatly reducing the possibility of dispatching in the event of a false alarm.

“Systems installed by SafetyCare Authorized Partners include two-way voice verification; in addition we have gone farther by introducing an entirely new signal called 'Family Emergency,’” Fischer said. "This is a button that anyone, such as a child or a babysitter, can press to speak to one of our Associates to answer any concern whatsoever.”

SafetyCare has chosen to use Alarm Verification Technology’s (AVT) "CAT Hands Free 911," which is the best quality module in the marketplace and can be installed in commercial or residential systems or used to upgrade existing alarm systems, according to Peter P. Giacalone, executive vice president, SafetyCare.

CAT, which stands for “captured audio technology,” provides 45 seconds of stored audio from the alarm event and 15 seconds of pre-alarm audio.

“Because of this innovative technology, an operator can listen to audio that was recorded by the CAT immediately before the alarm was triggered as well as directly after, making it a timesaving and invaluable tool for any operator,” said Philip J. Wright, CEO, AVT. “It is a priceless verification tool for SafetyCare and all life safety professionals, especially police and fire officials.”

“SafetyCare and AVT are working toward the best solution in providing these services to Members,” Giacalone said. “Our services coupled with AVT’s products perfectly complement one another, bringing much peace of mind to local authorities and saving residents much time and money.”

For more information about SafetyCare, log on to www.safetycare.us or call us at 800-280-6436 to find a SafetyCare Authorized Partner.

SafetyCare® is redefining security and safety – utilizing a high-tech central station system platform environment to monitor and support Members with a virtually endless range of security, safety, health and wellness services. SafetyCare subscribers can immediately access support services 24-hours-a-day by calling from anywhere in the world. SafetyCare offers Members medical record archiving and retrieval, certified professionals for support during medical emergencies, as well as health crisis counseling, consultation, conflict resolution, problem solving and critical incident intervention, among many other services. Members rely on SafetyCare for a broad range of issues, including stress, family problems, mental health issues and addictive behaviors. For more information, visit www.safetycare.us or call 1-800-280-6436.

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