The Punch Rescue ecosystem is built on a highly reliable, "dual-radio" mesh infrastructure. Unlike standard systems that rely solely on Wi-Fi or cellular apps—which can fail during critical moments—our hardware uses a combination of LoRa (Long Range) radio to transmit emergency alerts through building materials and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) for precise room-level location tracking.
To get the most out of your system, it is important to understand the four primary pieces of hardware that make up your safety network:
The Rescue Card: The Card is a lightweight, universal panic button badge designed for K-12 staff, retail employees, and general workplace safety. It operates on two replaceable CR2032 coin-cell batteries that last 12 to 18 months. Using its single button, staff can trigger a Daily Test (single press), a silent Level 1 emergency (triple press), or a full-scale Level 2 crisis (long press). Because it uses LoRa radio to broadcast alerts, it works reliably even in facility Wi-Fi "dead zones".
The Rescue Raft: The Raft is a specialized wearable designed specifically for lifeguards and aquatic environments. Unlike the Card, the Raft is rechargeable and should be placed in its 4-slot charging station nightly for a 2-day battery life. It features recessed water sensors that automatically trigger an alert upon submersion, as well as an integrated accelerometer that can detect a "drop event" and trigger a Fall Alert if the lifeguard sinks too deep for a standard signal to escape the water.
These stationary devices catch the signals from the wearables and ensure they reach internal responders and 911 dispatch.
Rescue Repeaters: Repeaters are smart, multi-purpose devices that simply plug into standard wall outlets via USB-C. They are typically placed in every classroom or major zone to form your facility's mesh network. They serve three main purposes:
Signal Relay: They listen for LoRa emergency alerts and forward them to the backend.
Location Tracking: They constantly scan for BLE signals from your wearable Cards to provide room-level location accuracy on your 3D Dashboard map.
Visual Alerts: They feature a high-visibility LED strobe array on top that flashes during an active emergency.
Note: Repeaters are highly resilient and feature an integrated rechargeable battery that provides up to 48 hours of backup operation during a power outage.
The Base Station acts as the central hub and gateway for your entire facility. It is typically mounted high on a wall (at least 5 feet up) and is powered by a standard Ethernet connection providing 30 Watts of Power over Ethernet (PoE). When an emergency is triggered, the Base Station broadcasts your facility's audible and visual alarms. If your local network goes down, the Base Station automatically switches to an active cellular connection to ensure the alert still reaches the outside world. It also contains its own internal backup battery that lasts for several hours during a power loss.
All of these devices communicate seamlessly with the Rescue Dashboard (accessible at app.punchrescue.com), allowing you to view real-time battery health, online status, and exact device locations.