the wisdom to follow. the courage to lead.
About Us
Campus Safety and Security
Your Safety is Our Priority
At Severn, the safety, well-being and security of our students and staff is a top priority. We establish systems to ensure everyone on campus is well-protected, safe and able to focus on the activities of school life. LiveSafe is part of our larger safety and security plan on both Teel and Chesapeake Campuses.
LiveSafe at Severn
LiveSafe provides safety communication services to schools throughout the country through the user's smartphone. We now partner with LiveSafe for our emergency notification system.
We are providing the LiveSafe app to all Middle and Upper school students, all faculty, all staff and all parents to download for free. The app provides a quick, convenient, and discreet way to communicate directly with school administration enhancing your overall safety and allowing Severn to better protect you.
LiveSafe provides more features than simply e-notifications to users during weather or other emergencies. The sophisticated app, customized for our community, also provides a mobile platform that allows users to text message and receive replies from Severn personnel. Students, staff and parents will have a quick and easy means for alerting administration about anything that should be reported — or even just if they want something investigated. Through iPhone and Android devices, users will also have the ability to report GPS-tagged information with added pictures, videos and audio clips. When students, staff or parents send information, we will know where they are on campus and can respond immediately.
We are providing the LiveSafe app to all Middle and Upper school students, all faculty, all staff and all parents to download for free. The app provides a quick, convenient, and discreet way to communicate directly with school administration enhancing your overall safety and allowing Severn to better protect you.
LiveSafe provides more features than simply e-notifications to users during weather or other emergencies. The sophisticated app, customized for our community, also provides a mobile platform that allows users to text message and receive replies from Severn personnel. Students, staff and parents will have a quick and easy means for alerting administration about anything that should be reported — or even just if they want something investigated. Through iPhone and Android devices, users will also have the ability to report GPS-tagged information with added pictures, videos and audio clips. When students, staff or parents send information, we will know where they are on campus and can respond immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
About LiveSafe
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What is LiveSafe?
LiveSafe is a personal safety mobile app that Severn School is providing to all Middle and Upper school students, all faculty, all staff and all parents to download for free. The app provides a quick, convenient, and discreet way to communicate directly with school administration enhancing your overall safety and allowing Severn to better protect you. -
What are the main features of the LiveSafe app?
Core features of LiveSafe include:- Notice of weather event delays and closures. Severn will notify our community of any weather related delays or closures.
- Report Tips. Submit tips related to safety concerns. Attach a photo, video, or audio file. Send anonymously if you choose.
- Emergency Options. Administrators within Severn can leverage location data in an emergency situation, allowing faster response times.
- Safety Map. Use the Safety Map to see where you are in relation to Severn buildings, safety places, and other information.
- SafeWalk. Feel safer walking alone with SafeWalk, a peer-to-peer virtual escort tool.
- Organization Resources. Quickly access Severn resources, such as phone numbers, just-in-time training, and emergency procedures.
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Why would someone use LiveSafe in an emergency?
If you have the capacity to make voice calls, LiveSafe encourages anyone in an emergency to always call 9-1-1. If you are unable to make a direct call due to situational or technical issues, or if you must be discreet, then LiveSafe reporting becomes advantageous. When the Emergency button is used to call 9-1-1, call Severn, or message Severn, location services are enabled to help emergency personnel find your location. -
If I see something of concern, should I also tell a teacher or Severn administrator?
Yes, you should report the issue of concern to a Severn employee if you are able. If the matter is not an emergency you can simply speak with a Severn employee about your matter.
About the App
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Does the app cost anything to download?
No, the app is free for both iOS and Android users. -
Why do I need to fill out a user profile after downloading LiveSafe?
Filling out the user profile will help Severn contact you if additional information is needed after you submit a tip. It is also helpful in emergency situations if you lose connection with Severn or if your identity is needed because you are in distress. If you use the Emergency button, Severn will have immediate access to your name and contact information. -
Why do I need to share my location with LiveSafe?
Based on your location, you will receive pertinent information from Severn. In addition, by sharing your location, Severn will be able to reach you more quickly in the event of an emergency. -
Do I need to enable location services in order for LiveSafe to work?
No. Even if location services are not enabled, you can still submit tips, request help through the Emergency Options button, and access Severn resources. However, in order for Severn to view your location and reach you in the event of an emergency, then location services must be enabled. This is why LiveSafe recommends always enabling location sharing. -
Why would I want to set location sharing to “Always”?
- To improve the accuracy of messaging in the LiveSafe app.
- To help Severn find you quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency.
- To ensure you receive important safety information from Severn if an emergency occurs in your area.
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If I set my location settings to “always”, does that kill my battery?
Typically the app will consume <1% of your battery per day with location services set to “always.” LiveSafe battery consumption can be found in your phone’s settings. -
Why does LiveSafe want me to allow access to my contacts?
Severn will not use this feature of LiveSafe. If parents and students choose to take advantage of this feature, the app asks for access to your contacts to support SafeWalk, a peer-to-peer virtual escort tool. By allowing LiveSafe access to your contacts, you can invite friends and family members who do not have the app to virtually escort you from place to place. -
What notifications do I receive if I enable push notifications?
Push notifications will originate from Severn to communicate real-time safety and security-related information. You will not receive marketing advertisements from LiveSafe. -
Do I need the LiveSafe app open to receive push notifications?
No. You will receive push notifications even if the app is closed. -
What happens if I decide not to subscribe? Will I still receive a broadcast?
No. If you choose not to subscribe, you will not receive information broadcast through LiveSafe. -
Should I enable WiFi?
Yes, enabling WiFi when available improves the accuracy of your location.
About Submitting Tips
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After I submit a tip I am prompted to chat with Severn. Do I have to chat with them?
No, you do not have to chat with them. However, in order to return to the home screen, you have to click on the “Chat with Severn” button and then press the back button at the top left of the screen that appears. -
What if I submit a tip which turns out to be a mistake?
You are encouraged to share information with an employee at Severn so we are aware of the mistake. However, reports that are purposefully false will be handled appropriately by Severn. -
When I send a tip via “report tips” is my location shared?
When you submit a tip through "Report Tips," your current location is submitted, but tracking is not enabled. If you send a tip and then continue moving, Severn will only be able to see the location from which the tip was sent. -
Is the anonymous feature really anonymous?
Yes, if you toggle the “Send Anonymously” option when submitting a tip or emergency message, your user information will show up as anonymous in all of the fields. Even if Severn uses the Live Chat feature to obtain additional information, you will still appear as anonymous. Severn may obtain your personal information from LiveSafe in the event of an emergency. If misused, Severn will get your personal information for LiveSafe.
About Emergency Options
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What happens when I select “Call 9-1-1” from the Emergency Options button?
When you select the “Call 9-1-1” button from the Emergency Options screen, a confirmation bubble will appear with the option to either “Call” or “Cancel”. This will help ensure that users do not accidentally call 9-1-1 if it is not an emergency. Once you place the call to 9-1-1, safety officials within Severn will receive information about your call such as your location (if location services are turned on). This will help first responders reach you quicker in the event of an emergency. -
If I call 9-1-1 while in a building, how will the responding emergency personnel know where to go?
When emergency calls or messages are initiated through the app, location sharing begins. Severn will receive a prompt letting them know that a call was placed to 9-1-1. Severn’s security officials have the ability to send you a chat to ask further questions and confirm your location. Severn can then meet emergency personnel upon arrival and direct them to your location. This will assist in getting you the help you need in the event of an emergency. -
How does the app know the location of the user and the emergency number to call?
The app leverages the region/country code based on device location and maps to a lookup of emergency numbers sourced from the U.S. Department of State. -
When making an emergency call, what happens if a user has little to no mobile connection?
The app will default to the last known location. From there, it will attempt to load the emergency number associated with that location.
About Safewalk
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If someone doesn’t have the LiveSafe app, can they still watch me through SafeWalk?
Yes. Friends and family members can virtually escort you from one place to another without downloading the app or joining Severn’s part of the app. When you invite friends and family members to watch you walk, they can connect either through the app or through a web view on their phone. -
Can I SafeWalk with Severn?
No, the SafeWalk feature is peer-to-peer; therefore, you share your location exclusively with the contacts you invite. Severn does not have the capability to serve as a virtual escort.
About Location Tracking
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Can my location be tracked by LiveSafe?
No, LiveSafe users cannot be located via the web dashboard through a search or tracking function. The location data from your phone is encrypted, and location sharing is always at the user’s discretion. -
If I download LiveSafe, can Severn see my location whenever they choose?
No. Your location is only sent to Severn when you submit a tip (anonymous or not) or use one of the features within the Emergency Options button (Call 9-1-1, Call Severn, or Message Severn). If your location information is sent to your Severn, it is encrypted and no one can access your location at will. App users always have the option to not share their location. -
What if I turn off my location services while traveling — will I be subscribed to the place I’m traveling to?
No, you will not since the app will not be able to find your location. However, if Severn has a community that you can join when traveling, you may be prompted to join that community. -
When do app users share their location?
- An app user shares their static location when a tip is sent through Report Tips.
- An app user shares their location when a call or message is sent through Emergency Options.
Lower School
Preschool-Grade 5
Chesapeake Campus
1185 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd
Arnold, MD 21012
410-647-7700
1185 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd
Arnold, MD 21012
410-647-7700