When mass shootings and violence occur at schools, many people wonder how an intruder was able to enter the building in the first place. At Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a back door did not lock as it should have, and the gunman was able to enter the building, leading to irreversible tragedy. 

If your Houston, TX school’s administration is concerned about safety and access control, it’s time to upgrade your system. With card readers, automatic locks, and even biometric technology, you can safeguard every entrance and make your institution safer for all.

Here’s how you can improve access control and, therefore, peace of mind in your Texas school. 

This is an undoubtedly challenging time for our school systems. Shortages of teachers, substitutes, and bus drivers have left schools scrambling for alternatives. Increasing workloads have only furthered teachers’ discontent. According to a survey conducted in February 2022, 66% of Texas educators recently considered leaving their jobs.

Not only does this affect the classroom environment, but it also decreases the staff that walks the hallways, keeping an eye on the kids when they're out of class. This and increasing stress in school and home environments have resulted in rising violence and the need for improved school security threat management.

Unfortunately, we all remember the accidental deadly shooting at a Bellaire, TX, high school in 2020. From 2016-2019, the Houston Independent School District recorded 92 disciplinary actions for guns. According to the Dallas Morning News, at least 101 incidents of gunfire occurred at schools in 2021, resulting in 56 injuries and 21 deaths.

Fortunately, there are several steps that schools across the country and in Texas are taking to help create a safer environment for our kids.

Trouble can come at any moment. From confrontations in the workplace, gun violence at schools, or dangerous weather, being informed protects lives and livelihoods. When combined with advanced surveillance networks, emergency notification systems provide up-to-date warnings and reunification information.

Surveys and reports on recent events ranging from wildfires to tornados show that individuals who received warnings and directives for safest routes fled sooner, maximizing their safety and reducing the strain on first responders. 

Are you looking to implement better communication with your Austin, TX communities? Continue reading below to learn more.

Safety and security in our shared spaces has never been more important. It’s easy to look at the news and feel overwhelmed, like there’s nothing anyone can do about threats to personal safety. But ASAP Security is here to step up the safety in schools, government buildings, and businesses throughout Houston, Texas. We offer a variety of innovative services to help property, people and communities stay .safe, as well as help, de-escalate any imminent dangers. One of our primary tools is commercial video surveillance. 

Read on to learn more about how commercial video surveillance and maintaining your camera system are critical for implementing safety procedures.

In 2021, there have been 24 school shootings across the U.S., resulting in 34 people injured and six people killed. Four of these incidents were in Texas. 

On June 9, a stray bullet injured a student after people from two vehicles exchanged gunfire at North Forest High School in Houston, TX. In October, three shootings occurred. 

Another one occurred in Houston when a former student shot through a glass door to gain entry to YES Prep Southwest Secondary and shot the principal. In addition, at Timberview High School, in Arlington, two people were shot when a school fight broke out, and at East Chambers High School in Winnie, a student at a football game was shot and injured. 

These statistics serve as a reminder that protecting our students and staff in schools should be a top priority not only in Houston, Richmond, and throughout Texas but throughout the country. The truth is that school shootings are more common than school fires. Yet, every school has some form of fire detection device. In today's environment, more schools choose to utilize a gunshot detection system to help protect their students and staff.

With all the minute details involved in the daily operations of schools, healthcare facilities, and large-scale businesses, it’s easy to let a piece of equipment that’s been functioning as intended remain in use, despite technological advancements that have made it all but a relic. 

At ASAP Security Services, we regularly speak with businesses about their commercial intercom systems in Austin, TX. They don’t know about the changes to the industry and what an upgrade could mean to their security and communications network. So, let’s look at what today’s commercial intercom system offers different operations.