Background

With continued safety incidents in and around our schools and workplaces, panic buttons that alert to specific security personnel in an emergency are a hot topic. Fixed location devices that may be hard-wired, call boxes, wearable buttons, and mobile phone applications are all examples of the many shapes and sizes available. How does your facility decide the best solution and should multiple, layered versions be considered to ensure safety in all areas and situations?

History of Alarm Systems

The many alarm button options available today have come a long way from the first electro-magnetic alarm system patented in 1853 by Augustus Russell Pope from Boston. Edwin Holmes founded the first company for electrical alarm systems and bought the rights to Pope’s invention in 1857. Holmes and his son even established the first central monitoring station through connections with the phone company and using unused telephone lines at night. Another milestone was achieved several years later by Edward Calahan and his emergency call boxes became standard use for police and fire services. In 1871, Calahan invented the first monitored burglar alarm and helped form American District Telegraph (ADT) Company.

The Twentieth Century saw multiple advancements including expansion and affordability of Calahan’s emergency call box after WWII. Alarm systems became a standard feature of building security in the 80’s and 90’s and the introduction of wireless alarm systems further revolutionized the industry.

Panic Button Progression

Alarm button technology has continued to progress over the years as market demand has grown. In the 1960’s, call buttons were deployed as part of school intercom systems for teachers to quickly call the administrative office. In the late 1970’s, microprocessor-based intercom systems entered the marketplace and gave staff the ability to place a “priority emergency” call to a central location. Emergency or Panic buttons have been used for years which effectively alert all concerned to dangerous and urgent situations.

Telecor’s commitment to panic button technology for school and workplace security has been around since our beginning in the 1980’s and continues to be a company priority. From our first call switches to our most recent release of ePanic mobile duress, the below timeline shows how our technology has evolved:

Panic Button Legislation

Recent legislation in some states has resulted in the adoption of Alyssa’s Law in K12 schools. Alyssa’s Law was started by parents of a 14-year-old (Alyssa) who was a victim in the Marjorie Stoneman High School shooting in 2018. Alyssa’s Law is critical legislation addressing the issue of law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs. The law calls for the installation of silent panic alarms that are directly linked to law enforcement, so in case of any emergency they will get on the scene as quickly as possible, take down a threat and triage any victims. Alyssa’s Law continues to be adopted in multiple states creating mandates for schools to have panic button technology. Telecor’s multi-layered strategy for panic buttons provides multiple options for districts seeking to comply with this legislation.

The Multi-Layered Strategy

Emergency situations can happen on and around any campus or workplace. Regardless of location, your facility should consider a layered approach to panic button accessibility for all staff. Any area that is occupied regularly is perfect for a fixed location/supervised panic switch. Classrooms, gymnasiums, hallways, cafeterias, stairwells, parking garages and administrative/reception areas are a few examples. By strategically placing fixed buttons in these areas, your staff will be familiar with their constant location for quick activation in the event of an emergency. And, if your facility includes an integrated intercom system, 2-way communication is available.

Supplementing fixed location buttons with virtual emergency buttons on desktop and laptop PCs provides a second layer of protection and can be useful for staff that regularly work from their PC. Telecor’s Virtual eCall incorporates an emergency call button right to the Windows-based desktop or laptop PC and even includes button options for alarm acknowledgement, medical alert, and security alert. Emergency calls are automatically routed to an eSeries console location and once answered, voice communications are instantly established over an area speaker. Virtual call buttons can be particularly useful and cost-effective if your facility has old, outdated wiring that would require replacement to support fixed buttons.

For staff members and visiting stakeholders that regularly move around your facility, adding a mobile panic button that is integrated to the Public Address network expands the “help” coverage area. Telecor’s ePanic is a state-of-the-art mobile duress button that provides all staff members with the ability to initiate an emergency alert from any location in a facility. The alert location is displayed on the visual console showing an IP camera feed along with instant two-way communication between the closest network speaker and the console. This dynamic user interface provides incident management including lockdown and the broadcast of emergency announcements both on and off site. ePanic creates a comprehensive mass notification solution that seamlessly integrates with the facility’s existing eSeries network eliminating the need for third-party support infrastructures.

To further enhance mobility, Telecor’s Mobile Quick Access (MQA) compatible with Apple or Android devices allows key staff members to activate emergency notifications (including lockdown) on the eSeries communication system from their mobile device. Notifications include the broadcast of pre-recorded audio announcements over speakers and displays, and email and SMS messages can be sent to custom lists of recipients both on and off-site including security and law enforcement personnel.

Enhanced Public Address Integration

Telecor’s eSeries is a comprehensive, mass notification solution that provides Ethernet-based intercom and public address for any facility. eSeries supports fixed location, virtual location, and mobile device panic buttons ensuring a multi-layered approach. In addition, multiple integration opportunities are available to further enhance your emergency preparedness protocols:

• Video camera feeds from the area in alert
• Alarm management display with color-coded lockdown status of key areas
• Strobe activation for enhanced alerting
• Digital signage messaging and instructions
• Locking system integration for centralized and prompt lockdown
• Pre-recorded emergency messages for seamless communication
• Emergency Preparedness Planning

In a crisis situation, when seconds count, it can’t take minutes. All facilities and workplaces need a carefully designed and regularly practiced emergency preparedness plan that aligns with the safety and security technology in place. Panic button location and accessibility should be a key part of the design and seamlessly notify both on and off-site security personnel. Taking a multi-layered approach with a combination of fixed, virtual and mobile location devices is a smart strategy that can positively impact the safety of those around you. Integrating these options to your everyday public address and mass notification solution eliminates third party infrastructures and managing multiple technologies.

About the Author:

Peter Jova is the President of Telecor Inc., an established international manufacturer of day-to-day and emergency communication systems. With an Electrical Engineering background, Peter has been in the sound contracting and communication business for over 40 years. Telecor is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario with facilities in Niagara Falls, NY and has over 50,000 systems in place worldwide.

References

1. History of the Alarm System, ABUS. (n.d.). https://origin.abus.com/eng/Guide/Break-in-protection/Alarm-systems/History-of-the-alarm-system.
2. “Our History”, History of ADT Security Company, ADT. (n.d.). https://www.adt.com/about-adt/history.
3. HISTORY OF ALARM SECURITY, U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.). https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/history-alarm-security.