Mass Alerting and Accessibility
Emergency Mass Notification Systems require the ability to instantly send specific messages to a mass audience, often in dispersed locations, via a variety of methods, and track results.
Common alerting solutions include wireless devices, numeric and alphanumeric pagers, landline & cellular telephones, email and SMS. A call management system should allow the user to assign multiple methods of notification to each individual or location, and a priority level for each. Some users take advantage of a feature that creates text alerts for display on networked LCD panels or wireless LED displays, which may also include audible alarms, throughout a campus along or individual locations with the ability to launch messages from any phone or web browser interface.
This linked http://www.aoda.ca/?p=864 article reports that universities and colleges are adopting plans and policies that make their campus more accessible and compliant with the AODA. A mass alerting system, with accessibility for visually and hearing impaired, is part of the reason Brock University in St. Catharines a South Central Ontario University added our “Big Pager” Mass Alerting Solution with both audible and
visual alert functions to public spaces throughout the campus. A mix of regular and Superbright LED displays complete with Text-To-Speech Functionality and the ability to replay pre-programmed wave files were installed by our local dealer in cooperation with the university’s IT department. All “Big Pager” signs can be called simultaneously or selectively and can display messages in one of 3 alert levels Red, Yellow, & Green, with an accompanying audible message.
The university incorporated the “Big Pager” into their campus paging and security system along with Commtech’s Messenger software. Messenger solved a problem with their existing campus telephone system. When 911 was called the specific location of the extension was not provided to 911 dispatch. All they knew was they had an emergency on campus, where it was could not be identified until Messenger was installed. It added th
e telephone extension to the 911 string thereby providing an exact location where the responders should go dramatically improving emergency arrival time for 911 responders.
- The “Big Pager” solution can be added into any campus communications system via their own paging terminals or area wide paging services.
- Messenger can cure telephone system extension identification for 911 responders
- Many Canadian Campus’ are putting Emergency Preparedness plans in place