Page 90 - Security Today, July/August 2022

Emergency Preparedness
system accordingly for maximum intelligibility of announcements in every situation.
Sound is not the only factor in relaying critical life-safety announcements, however, and a holistic emergency alert system can also include visual displays and flashers to meet stringent ADA- compliance requirements for alerting those who are disabled or hearing-impaired.
The use of visual aids makes following instructions easier, especially when people are panicking and may not easily be able to comprehend spoken announcements. Wayfinding displays with colors or arrows are simple to follow, leading students and staff to emergency meeting locations, while short, simple messages in rolling text work in connection with digital signage, alarms and other sounds to create a system that is fully inclusive.
Expanding the Boundaries of the Modern Campus
The elements of a campus have changed considerably over time, with outdoor venues, mobile classrooms, remote learning and other environments expanding the requirements for communications systems.
The modern campus not only includes these new areas on the premises, but also extends to off-site locations. COVID-19 pushed educational facilities into unfamiliar territory as remote instruction and social distancing left administrators scrambling to design a viable
system for learning at home. Even after the most stringent restrictions have eased, hybrid and flexible learning remains a key part of the learning experience.
An upgraded communications system that takes this expanded geography into account will deliver a consistency of messaging for students, faculty, and parents wherever they are. Mobile alerts have become a normal part of everyday life, and a campus emergency preparedness plan is no different. Whether alerting to the cancellation of a previously scheduled event, a building lockdown, an unexpected early dismissal or a pivot to remote learning, visual and audio prompts should be able to reach any computer or phone for real-time updates that affect the ever-growing campus community.
Educational facilities today have more considerations than before—an ever-evolving list of potential emergencies affecting a more diverse campus population across a wider geography and with more special needs. Public address and emergency alert systems need to do more. Investing in the right hardware and software to properly upgrade their capabilities gives administrators the flexibility and agility they need to adapt to these changing needs—and keep their communities safe, both now and in the future.
Gina Sansivero is the VP of Marketing & Corporate Communications for AtlasIED.
14 campuslifesecurity.com | JULY/AUGUST 2022