4 Reasons to invest in Verified Panic Buttons

Everyone has seen some movie where the bank gets robbed and a teller secretly presses a button under the counter to “call police”.  Having this subtle way of telling someone you are in trouble is invaluable when you cannot reach for the obvious cell phone.  But are panic buttons the best way to get police to you?

First, it is important to understand how the conventional buttons operate.  When a button is pressed, someone, somewhere sees an alert come up on their computer that typically looks like this:

“Zone 7: Panic”

The operator then calls a law enforcement dispatcher and tells them exactly what he or she sees on the screen, “Zone 7 Panic” with a street address.  And then the clock starts ticking.

Even the novice 911 caller gives more information than this.  In fact, according to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), there are necessary items 911 needs to get the proper help to an emergency situation quickly.  Some of these tips include:                                     

• DO YOUR BEST TO STAY CALM AND ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
• DO YOU NEED THE POLICE, FIRE OR AMBULANCE?
• KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE EMERGENCY

Shouldn’t a paid service offer more than a novice 911 caller?

Verified systems are built on the platform of providing law enforcement and other responding agencies with further information.  Here are 4 reasons to invest in Verified Panic Buttons over the traditional alarm buttons.

1. When a panic button is pressed, highly trained operators are taught to clearly relay all information in a steady tone. Having this clear tone allows dispatchers to type and verbally communicate all information to law enforcement without the need to ask the operator to calm down or respond again.
2. Conventional panic buttons only share an address. But in an active situation, location is not just an address.  It is a place.  Directional details, north, south, east, and west will tell officers where the action is located within the building.  Is it in the warehouse, receptionist area, human resources, or front school office?  All these location details are calmly and properly relayed to dispatch.
3. A conventional panic button signals police response. But what if other agencies are needed?  In an active violent situation, you may need law enforcement and medical to respond.  Using audio and video, operators can provide necessary details to send the proper help.
4. With a verified panic button the call doesn’t disconnect after the operator calmly relays location and type of response. Verified system puts eyes and ears inside the building.  Other details critical to the safety of law enforcement and victims inside and outside the building can be shared.  Alerting law enforcement of multiple suspects with descriptions allows them to plan while in route.  Operators can also notify dispatch if there are other people in the immediate danger zone of the suspects.  A properly built system will trigger a camera viewing in the parking lot where vehicle descriptions may be available to relay to law enforcement.

In the end, paying for proper police dispatch is important to employee and property safety.

For this and other ways to help business owners protect their employees and property, contact us and follow us on social media.