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Invention could help save lives in shootings

Posted at 9:41 AM, Oct 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-05 10:41:21-04

The number of children killed by gun fire inside schools has left the country stunned.

The latest shooting resulted in nine students getting killed at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

As the nation mourns their deaths, a local man says he has the solution to protect kids in these mass killings.

"It started shortly after Sandy Hook, actually Sandy was the catalyst for me," said former De Soto School District principal and SafeDefend inventor Jeff Green.

Green says it was never meant to be a business, just a dad and principal protecting his children.

"We saw this in Oregon as well - one of the things that really stands out is we are on our own until help gets there, Green said. "So what can we do as far as information and as far as training and tools to provide those in that crisis moment the ability to survive until help gets there."

With just a swipe of a finger, SafeDefend recognizes the finger print and opens.

Inside, it holds gel pepper spray, an expandable batten (which can be used to protect or escape a room), trauma kits, a tourniquets, and a strobe light to distract an attacker.

It’s not only what's inside the box, but the information that's sent out.

"The system when it's activated immediately notifies law enforcement through 911. In addition, there's text and email alerts that go out with the system and those alerts tell down to the exact classroom where the system was set off," said Green.

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An alert also goes out to teachers and staff inside the school.

Local schools using SafeDefend include Blue Ridge Christian, Louisburg Library, and Atchison County Community Schools.   

Green says businesses are also buying in.

He says by the first of the year, SafeDefend boxes will be in 2,000 classrooms and business nationwide.

"We hope they never use it, but they are going to be very glad it's there if they ever need it," said Green.

The SafeDefend box and system ranges from $500 to $700.

Green has seen such a positive response that parents have been offering to help schools pay for the system.

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