IN THE NEWS WITH ASR

July 2021 Survey Results Rank Safety/Security as Top Priorities for Education Facilities

The report, “Rethinking Educational Facilities as Digital Entities,” discusses the assessments, challenges, and priorities of education facility managers across the U.S., Germany, and China. Covering school facilities from pre-kindergarten through high school, as well as colleges, universities, and trade schools, it reveals concerns about issues like physical infrastructure (such as outdated HVAC systems) and how to enhance and invest in digital infrastructure for the sake of security, safety, building health and emergency response. According to the results of a new survey from Honeywell Building Technologies, 93% of schools reported an emergency incident due to an infrastructure malfunction within the last year. Similarly, within that same timeframe, 43% reported a cybersecurity or physical site breach. A little less than half (45%) of the education facility managers surveyed said that site security (including video surveillance and access control) and fire and life safety systems were among their top priorities in the coming 12–18 months.

The survey’s results revealed a common theme among all three countries that we want to point out.  Safety and security remain top priorities.

About 52% of respondents listed site security as one of their highest priorities, including 34% who said that improving site security through various means was their top priority. Concerns regarding facility security included physical security and access control (77%); communication with staff, students, and parents (76%); identifying the root issues of security and intrusion (73%), and reducing air filtration and contaminants (74%).

The full report, “Rethinking Education Facilities as Digital Entities,” is available online.

Full Article Here - Matt Jones, July 22, 2021

What Does This Mean for the Education Sector?

In some parts of the United States, school security measures are required. For example, an examination of school safety and security data after the February 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, FL, reveals that 15 states have mandated requirements for school safety. The data from the Police Foundation found that security requirements included:

• Intercom solutions
• Restricted visitor access and access controls
• Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)
• Emergency and mass notification systems
• Bullet resistant solutions

Another report, by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) that was released in February 2019, also summarizes statutes and regulations on K-12 school safety for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

• At least 43 states and the District of Columbia require districts to have a school safety plan, many mandating the involvement of local law enforcement.
• About 13 states and the District of Columbia mandate safety audits at school facilities, some with the help of local law enforcement.
• At least 42 states require schools to conduct safety or security drills, such as active shooter, evacuation, lockdown, and emergency response training.
• About 28 states and the District of Columbia require specific training for school resource officers either similar to law enforcement training or tailored to the school setting.

The concern regarding public security has expanded over the previous decade, as individuals are defied with various hazardous situations from artificial and regular emergencies. The loss of life and damage to property is enormous, in the case of any destructive event.

The increasing demand for fast message delivery in emergency cases and the development of pioneering technologies are two of the major factors that education facilities are considering.  This is creating a rise in the adoption of duress-based solutions in enterprises across education and healthcare end-users.  As a result of mass shootings like Las Vegas (Oct 2017) and Parkland (Feb 2018), organizations are increasingly focusing on public safety.

How Can ASR Help?

ASR Alert Systems is a patented state-of-the-art critical incident response technology specializing in the field of alert notifications to Law Enforcement and First Responders in the event of an active shooter or other crisis. Our technology can be customized to any industry, building, or event. We deliver customer-specific technology unmatched by anyone.  With the PUSH of A BUTTON, the life-saving critical information of your situation is sent DIRECTLY to police dispatch.  

NOTE:  When you call 911, you are generally reaching a call center who then has to call the local law enforcement department, who then has to communicate the situation to first responders.

The ASR system reaches dispatch and 911 simultaneously and also has the ability to text local officers on the ground - all at the same time, delivering all the information to everyone within seconds.  We hold the patent on this technology.

Our critical incident response technology uses hard-mounted buttons, mobile pendants, and an optional mobile phone application to DIRECTLY communicate with first responders in the area to significantly decrease response times to an active threat or crisis situation.  

The ASR Threat Alert System can and should be a part of emergency response plans for any and all organizations as it bridges the gaps between panic, communication, and life-saving response.  

By installing the ASR Threat Alert System, a business is helping to mitigate the harms of an active shooter or other crisis events.  If you are interested in an ASR Threat Alert System and would like to schedule a FREE LIVE VIRTUAL DEMONSTRATION, please contact us today.

To learn more about ASR Alert Systems, CLICK HERE