Increase School Safety with a K12 Mass Notification System

In today's school environment, effective and immediate communication is more critical than ever. Every second counts in emergency situations, whether an active shooter incident, lockdowns, evacuations, a weather-related event, or a natural disaster. Active shooter incidents in particular typically last, at most, 10-15 minutes, with the first few minutes the most critical time to take action and alert those involved so they can seek safety.

More commonly, schools in Lubbock, TX, need a way to reach parents, staff, administrators, and teachers regarding everyday affairs, ranging from school event cancellations, early dismissals, PTA announcements, schedule changes, parent-teacher conferences, rental device management, and much more. The answer to distributing emergency and daily information is a mass notification system. 

Let’s explore how these systems help send real-time messaging in the event of emergencies or regarding day-to-day events and school news.

SEE ALSO: Increase Safety with a School District Security System

How Mass Notification Systems Work

Authorized personnel log into an easy-to-use platform via an online dashboard or mobile app. From there, they can send messages through text, email, voice, mobile app push, or social media. This type of mass communication system ensures everyone gets the message no matter what device they are using, where they are located, or if certain services are disrupted in an emergency.

Schools can select groups of recipients depending on the message going out, including various departments, parents, or teachers. For instance, in a severe weather event, parents need information about picking up their children, while teachers require notifications on what to do to protect themselves and their students.

Integrating with Other Systems

ASAP Security Services partners with industry leaders in mass notification systems, ensuring the ideal solution for a school’s unique needs. For example, some of these systems integrate with digital signage and public address systems and send alerts to first responders in an emergency. 

Others offer two-way communication and geofencing capabilities. For instance, in an emergency situation affected by someone’s location, a school can send alerts to everyone within a geographic region by drawing a virtual fence around the area in danger. 

Entering the Digital Age

With today’s current technology, there’s no reason that schools should have to deliberate on how to reach parents or staff. Today, mass notification systems make it effortless to send important information to those who need to be informed in an instant. From notifying parents of a shelter-in-place or lockdown incident to a late start or school closures, schools can reach everyone on any device within seconds. 

As a leading security company serving schools in Texas for over 75 years, ASAP Security Services is committed to increasing school safety while maintaining a positive and healthy school environment. To learn more about mass notification systems or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact ASAP Security Services today.