A Holistic Approach to Mass Notification
The role of visual alerting and smart LED signage in emergency situations on university campuses
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Visual Alerting at Colleges and Universities
Redundancy and reliability are two necessary attributes of a holistic approach to mass notification on college campuses. Best practices indicate that a mixed media approach to emergency communication will garner a higher degree of effective response than a one-dimensional approach. For example, supplementing audio alerts with visual alerts is an important step toward creating a complete program for mass notification.
As the demand for improved preparedness outpaces the funding and grants available for this type of solution, administrators are looking for value-added investments that serve a practical day-to-day purpose in addition to an emergency communication solution. Smart LEDs contain three levels of display priority. On a daily basis, when there is no important message to communicate, the devices default to a synchronized time and date display. Medium priority level messages, such as bus schedule announcements or event reminders override this time and date display when necessary. The highest level of priority overrides all other messaging and prominently displays the emergency notification message. This ultimate functionality may become necessary in the case of severe weather, an intruder on campus, or a number of other unexpected emergency situations.
Smart LEDs are "green" devices, utilizing cutting-edge Power over the Ethernet (PoE) technology to minimize the wattage used to power the display. Therefore, the money saved on operating the system alone becomes substantial over time.
Conclusion
Best practices in mass notification call for a holistic approach with multiple tiers of communication technologies in an emergency situation. The visual alerts available with a smart LED solution strategically placed in high traffic and gathering areas is a fundamental part of effectively communicating vital information instantly. With the right technology mix, emergency management personnel can save time and save lives while leveraging components of the solution for practical daily use and earning a valuable return on investment.
About Inova Solutions
Since 1984, Inova Solutions has been helping schools and universities, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, call centers and others communicate vital real-time information. Inova’s visual notification system, Inova OnAlert™, has been successfully deployed at Virginia Tech and other leading institutions. To learn more, visit www.inovasolutions.com/mass-notification or call 1.866.686.8774.
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