MUSCMedical LinksCharleston LinksArchivesMedical EducatorSpeakers BureauSeminars and EventsResearch StudiesResearch GrantsGrantlandCommunity HappeningsCampus News

Return to Main Menu

New callboxes find home in Hagood lot

Maintaining a safe and secure environment throughout MUSC's campus has always been top priority for the Department of Public Safety. Part of that safety has been the recent installation of four new emergency callboxes at the Hagood Avenue parking lot. This upgrade in security equipment is part of a joint collaboration with Public Safety and the Department of Parking Management to deter crime and to add protection.

“The need to provide this level of security became apparent to us based on employee and student feedback,” said Melinda Anderson, director of the Department of Parking Management. “Our collaboration with Public Safety on this and other projects is a good and effective partnership.”

The wireless callboxes, which operate as easily as the existing 53 callboxes, provide additional capabilities and user assurance. Campus callboxes are being replaced because the manufacturer is no longer in business. The new units operate on one of the assigned Public Safety radio frequencies and features two-way voice communications and automatic callbox location information. They feature an audible announcement confirming with a user that their call has been sent to Public Safety and automatically links the box to cameras and the campus' closed circuit television (CCTV) system. Almost immediately, the Public Safety dispatcher can observe the area around the callbox and take action even before responding to the callbox.

Although slightly larger in size, the new callboxes are highly visible. The units are orange or cream in color and equipped with a white antenna dome on top of the box and the word, EMERGENCY, printed in large letters on its front. Above each unit are two indicator lights, one which is illuminated at night to help locate the callbox. Once the callbox has been activated, a second blue light starts to strobe. This second light has an output of 50,000 candle power and is so bright that it can be seen from several blocks away. This light is designed to ward off perpetrators and remains flashing until the callbox is reset.

“This represents a big upgrade to customer and employee safety on campus,” said Lt. Bob Waite, electronic security officer, Department of Public Safety. “A few years ago, the introduction of callboxes throughout campus improved security. But having the capability to link them with CCTV capabilities offers even greater improvements in safety for everyone.”

In addition to the new callboxes located in the Hagood Avenue parking lot, the two inoperative callboxes in A Parking Lot have been replaced with the new units. Parking Management has also authorized upgrades in the employee parking garage for cameras and other equipment and the future installation of callboxes in the Harborview Tower Garage. 

The installation of new callboxes and selective replacement of others will commence after July 1 for the next few years—providing a total of 63 callboxes throughout campus. According to Waite, this replacement schedule will allow Public Safety to maintain all callboxes fully operational using the replaced units for spare parts.

For information about MUSC Public Safety visit their Web site at <http://www.musc.edu/publicsafety>.

When you need to contact Public Safety on the new call boxes...
1. Press the PUSH FOR HELP button located on the front panel.

  • A green indicator light will light up momentarily, signaling that your call has been sent to Public Safety.
  • Along with the green light, a recorded greeting message will be played by the call box notifying you of your call status.
  • Your call, including  your location, will continue to alert Public Safety until your call is acknowledged.
2.  When Public Safety receives your call...
  • A red light on the call box will light up, telling you Public Safety has acknowledged your call.
  • A Public Safety Dispatcher will greet you and ask if you have a problem.
  • To answer the dispatcher simply press and hold the PUSH FOR HELP button and speak in a normal voice.
  • When you are finished speaking, release the button and listen for a response from the dispatcher.