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Pat Scheckel is Vice President of Product Management at Singlewire Software. Based out of Madison, Wis., Scheckel has more than 20 years of experience in the IT industry, including two decades with unified communications and collaboration and has helped numerous K12 schools and college campuses implement mass notification solutions to enhance communication and safety.
The risks that come with having an ineffective lockdown plan became painfully evident following the events at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. While the people inside the building were ushered to safety, the building itself was breached and overrun resulting in theft, building damage, injury and even death. It was clear that while the notification side of an emergency plan can be useful, its effectiveness only goes so far if it is not working in tandem with other physical security measures.
Evacuations and lockdowns are two events no organization wants to face, but every organization should be prepared for. They often happen in response to particularly dangerous situations that pose an immediate threat to people and property. It can be difficult to know how and when to make the decision to lockdown or evacuate, and it can be even more difficult to manage once the decision has been made. In either case, it requires organizations plan, test and have the right tools in place to reach all of their people quickly with information on what actions they should take to stay safe.
While the overall impact of the coronavirus is still in question, organizations can mitigate the damage it may cause by using mass notification stay in contact with their employees to keep them informed about any changes or developments.
Concert venues and other events often draw large crowds. This can cause numerous issues when event organizers and building administrators are trying to communicate safety information. Noise and other distractions can make it difficult to grab people’s attention and relay instructions that will keep them out of harm’s way. Whether it’s an active shooter, bomb threat, severe weather, fire, or some other emergency, you need to have plans in place to share information with attendees and manage the situation at hand.
