National Safety Month: Vivint’s Smart Home Technologies Save Real Customers from Armed Intruder, Fire, Medical Emergency

PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Home automation or “smart home” technologies include features that add ease and convenience for consumers, but they also offer other benefits that can keep their homes and families more secure—and even save lives.

“Little did I know they were headed straight to my house.”

In conjunction with National Safety Month, three real Vivint customers share how their home automation systems kept them safe.

Pamela C., Sparks, Nevada: Saved from an Armed Intruder

Pam’s Vivint system woke her at 5:55 a.m. one morning, alerting her that her second floor window had been opened. She headed upstairs expecting to find the wind had just blown it open, but instead experienced the shock of her life. “I looked up and saw a man standing there with a sawed-off shotgun. He yelled ‘freeze!’ I didn’t, and instead sprinted back toward my bedroom.”

On her way down the hall, Pam passed her in-home Vivint control panel, yelling, “Help, help, help! Someone is in my house!” A Vivint operator was already listening in through the panel and heard Pam’s pleas. The operator immediately notified local police, and then spoke to Pam through the panel, letting her know help was on the way. In the meantime, the intruder fired a shot down the hallway. Pam panicked and yelled out to the operator, “I’ve got to get out of here!” The operator instructed her to stay where she was and again assured her that help was on the way. By the time the SWAT team and 35 officers arrived just seven minutes later, the gunman had escaped—but Pam was safe.

Police advised Pam to stay away from her home for the next few days, but she would have none of that. “It’s my home. I’m not giving that guy the power over me to leave it. And besides, I have Vivint, and now I know what the system can do.”

She continued: “The instructions I received from the Vivint operator made sure I did the best thing possible in the worst situation. I was panicked but your operator surely wasn’t. She was amazing and I want to thank her and everyone at Vivint that saved my life. I would not have survived this without being alerted by the alarm and then coached through this awful event. I never dreamed this would happen to me. I know I would not have done the right things had it not been for the operator coaching me on what to do in the heat of the moment. It’s ironic, but my 33-year-old son who lives across town wondered why I invested in my Vivint system. Now he says he’s glad I didn’t listen to him.”

Meleasa C., Little Rock, Ark.: Son Escaped Burning Home

Meleasa’s 20-year-old son, who suffers from chronic back pain, was home making lunch one afternoon. Drowsy from pain medication, he fell asleep on the couch after putting food on the stove.

Stopping by the grocery store on her way home one day, Meleasa noticed a fleet of fire engines and an ambulance rushing down the street. “Little did I know they were headed straight to my house.”

By the time Meleasa arrived home, firefighters had the situation under control. “My Vivint security system notified the fire department so quickly they were able to get to my house, rescue my son, and put the fire out before too much damage was done,” she said. “The fire chief apologized for having to kick my door down. Of course I told him I didn’t mind at all. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if Vivint wasn’t minding their p’s and q’s.

“I always know that Vivint will help me get the assistance I need. Sometimes it’s just a question over the phone or a quick service visit, and sometimes it is a matter of life and death. In every situation I know Vivint is here for me. All I can say is thank God for them.”

Marcella J., Fort Worth, Tex.: Rescued After a Medical Emergency

Marcella suffers from a seizure disorder that causes bouts of fainting, blackouts and sleepwalking. For Marcella and her husband, Anthony, having a security system that keeps her safe and can connect them with local emergency responders quickly is a priority. Marcella and Anthony tried several systems, but the equipment and services were difficult to use and not very reliable. When a Vivint representative knocked on their door, they decided the company’s home automation system was a perfect solution.

Shortly after installing their new system, Marcella was talking with a friend on the telephone when she was overwhelmed by headache and nausea. Somewhere between hanging up the phone and passing out, she pushed the emergency button on her in-home control panel. The next thing Marcella remembers is waking up to a Vivint operator talking to her over the panel.

“I don’t remember hitting the button or anything, but I woke up to a voice on the intercom asking if I was okay,” Marcella said. “The operator talked until I woke up and wouldn’t get off the intercom until she was absolutely sure no one was in the house trying to hurt me. It was like having a rescue worker holding my hand until help arrived. I felt safe and knew I was going to be okay.”

Help arrived quickly, and Marcella was transported to a local hospital. In the meantime, Vivint had notified Marcella’s husband, who was waiting for her when she arrived.

“We had the system for less than two weeks,” Marcella said. “If it hadn’t been for Vivint, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I am so grateful for the immediate response and personal care I received.”

About Vivint

Vivint, Inc. is one of the largest home automation companies in North America. Operating throughout the United States and Canada, the company services close to 500,000 customers. With award-winning customer service and smart technology, Vivint is dedicated to enhancing security, increasing energy efficiency, and creating simple, affordable home automation solutions for its customers. For more information, visit www.vivint.com.