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In case of emergency

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Emily Chilson
  • 20th Fighter Wing
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 20th Civil Engineer and Contracting Squadrons installed 18 emergency callboxes around Shaw AFB in the ongoing effort to improve security. 

Callbox installations, a combined effort by several organizations on base and in the local community, began Dec. 15 at the softball fields and ended Dec. 19 at Memorial Lake.

"Installing emergency callboxes is another way we help ensure the safety of our people," said Col. Joseph Guastella, 20th Fighter Wing commander. "People are responsible for the success of our mission and we are committed to protecting them."
Lt. Col. Brian Wilkey, 20th Communication Squadron commander, and Maj. James Hageman, 20th Contracting Squadron commander, lifted, placed and secured the last of the ten-foot emergency callboxes onto the base pedestal. Staff Sgt. Michael Henry, 20th Communication Squadron, and Dale Yarbrough, 20th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, assisted both commanders. 

"Col. James Post, former 20th Fighter Wing commander, tasked Shaw AFB to procure and install an emergency telephone alerting system at 18 locations to enhance the security and safety of individuals on Shaw AFB," Mr. Yarbrough said. 

In addition to safety, each callbox has a solar panel and a sleep mode for energy conservation. A one-day charge allows for a 40-day battery standby since energy is only used when the call system is active. 

According to the callbox manufacturer, an individual using the callbox can have an instantaneous two-way communication with security forces through radio frequency with a press of the button. Pressing the red activation button automatically triggers a loud ringing tone which sounds simultaneously at the callbox and on the security forces radios. 

"The phone system includes self-contained lighting to assist users in locating the phone box in dim or dark areas and operating phone controls," Mr. Yarbrough said. 

Even if the caller is distressed, upon activation, a digitally stored voice message will automatically transmit over the callbox radio channel to let responding personnel know the exact location of the callbox. If a callbox is tampered with, a digitally stored voice message will automatically transmit to monitoring personnel only, stating the system's location and ID, followed by a "tamper alert" announcement. 

"The 20th SFS assisted in identifying key features of the phone system needed to maximize security forces and first-responders efforts to aid and assist individuals while the 20th CES provided insight regarding current and future infrastructure changes to optimize phone locations for maximum coverage," Mr. Yarbrough said.