Insights

Wearable Safety System | July 17, 2025

Why Being Wearable-First Changes Everything in School Safety

Manny Pacheco

SVP, Strategy and Growth

Rethinking Emergency Response in the Modern School Environment

Safety planning must go beyond policies and infrastructure — it must empower people. Teachers, staff, and administrators need tools they can rely on in real time, no matter where they are or what kind of emergency they face.

That’s why being wearable-first isn’t just a technical decision. It’s a mindset — and it’s a game-changer for school safety.

Traditional Systems Are Static — Emergencies Aren’t

For years, school security relied on fixed panic buttons, desk phones, or overhead intercoms. But these tools come with a critical flaw: they assume that staff will be near them in a moment of crisis.

Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case.

What happens when an incident unfolds in the hallway? The field? In the parking lot? Emergencies don’t happen on a schedule or inside a specific room — and expecting staff to reach a wall-mounted device in time is a gamble we can’t afford.

With NovoTrax, Safety Travels with the Person

NovoTrax was designed to move with the people who need protection most. As a wearable-first platform, it offers multiple ways for staff to stay connected and in control:

Discreet wearable panic buttons

Real-time location tracking tags

On-campus and off

Each format empowers staff to trigger alerts and request help instantly — whether they’re supervising recess, walking between buildings, on a fieldtrip, or responding to a medical issue in the cafeteria.

The flexibility of multiple wearable formats ensures that each team member can use what makes the most sense for their role and environment.

Coverage That Moves with Your Staff

Education isn’t static — and neither is your staff. They’re constantly in motion: moving between classrooms, monitoring entrances, managing traffic, or stepping outside for dismissal.

With NovoTrax’s wearable-first approach, coverage is continuous. Staff stay connected:

Indoors and outdoors

In temporary buildings or portables

Even in locations without reliable Wi-Fi

This eliminates the coverage gaps that traditional systems often ignore — ensuring staff are never out of reach when it matters most.

Action + Precision: The RTLS Advantage

Pressing a button is only the beginning. What happens next determines the speed and effectiveness of the response.

That’s where Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) comes in.

Every panic event is automatically linked to the exact location and identity of the staff member who triggered it. Responders don’t have to waste time asking “where are they?” — the platform shows them, in real-time.

It’s not guesswork. It’s accurate, room-level visibility that drives faster, smarter action.

Confidence Through Familiarity

Wearables aren’t just about technology — they’re about behavior. Staff are far more likely to use a device they wear daily and feel confident using.

That familiarity becomes essential during a crisis, when adrenaline is high and every second matters.

A Tool for Every Day, Not Just Emergency Days

What sets NovoTrax apart isn’t just how it performs in a worst-case scenario — it’s how it supports everyday safety as well.

From routine nurse calls to behavior escalation alerts, from accountability drills to reunification tracking, NovoTrax wearables are used every day by school staff — reinforcing a culture of preparedness and responsiveness.