Ensuring the safety and security of all students, staff and visitors in educational facilities will always rank as a top priority for school administrators. Alongside potential threats posed by unauthorized intruders and acts of violence, security staff must have plans in place to safely evacuate school buildings in response to natural disasters, fires and similar emergencies.
Traditionally, emergency response plans may have been reliant on in-person patrols and well-planned logistics, but as student bodies and campuses grow larger, security teams are increasingly turning towards smart technology systems to help improve incident responses.
More than 90% of US schools now utilize electronic notification systems and video security networks to assist in-person teams in identifying and addressing emergency events, with a similar number of facilities also deploying access control solutions to further improve on-site security.
For school administrators and security staff intending to update existing protocols, this guide will cover a range of smart technologies and trusted policies designed to help teams develop effective school emergency response plans.
Smart incident detection systems
The first step towards developing effective school emergency response plans is to ensure all installed security systems and related operational policies are designed to identify incidents promptly. Primarily, security staff should consider the benefits of developing a cloud-based security management system to provide on-site teams with real-time monitoring capabilities.
Within a cloud-based system, all active security devices like video security cameras, access control systems and on-site alarms can be viewed and adjusted remotely, with admins able to access these tools from any verified smart device connected to a secure Wi-Fi network.
Live alerts can be programmed to ensure emergency responders are informed of potential threats immediately, allowing teams to enact emergency response procedures as quickly as possible. For example, if motion sensors detect movement in a supposedly secure location, staff will be notified and able to access nearby PTZ cameras to further investigate the event.
Internet of Things (IoT) integrations
With a cloud-based security framework in place, teams can develop integrated systems in which emergency responses are informed by data collected from multiple devices, enabling the deployment of IoT sensors programmed to detect and respond to various emergencies.
For example, IoT temperature and smoke detectors can be installed in school buildings and programmed to activate fire suppression systems in response to suspected fires, whilst IoT noise sensors can be configured to trigger commercial alarm systems if sounds consistent with a break-in are detected. Utilizing these tools can measurably improve emergency incident response times by providing first responders with accurate information pertaining to ongoing emergencies.
AI-informed school security solutions
In addition to automated emergency responses informed by IoT devices, modern school security teams can utilize advanced AI technology to detect and address potential threats with improved efficiency. When combined with adjustable remote-access PTZ cameras, AI video analytics software can be programmed to identify various emergencies autonomously.
Modern AI programs can detect a wide variety of potential threats, including the presence of contraband items and crowds forming in unusual locations, with systems configured to send automated alerts to security personnel to enable teams to provide an appropriate response.
Additionally, AI video analytics software can be integrated into fire detection and suppression systems to further improve the speed at which these emergencies are identified, with teams able to customize systems to engage unique responses in line with the severity of the threat.
Panic buttons and alert systems
School administrators and security teams must consider how staff members and students are intended to alert emergency responders in the event of an unfolding emergency. Panic buttons may be installed in classrooms and private locations such as student housing to provide school residents with a reliable method of requesting assistance during incidents.
Modern panic button systems can be integrated into existing access control solutions to automatically lock relevant doors and activate retractable window grilles, as well as send electronic notifications to on-site security staff and local authorities to request a response.
Systems can also be configured to provide law enforcement with actionable information regarding unfolding incidents, including the time, location and severity of the event, as well as temporary access credentials to ensure responders can safely enter the school on arrival.
School emergency response plan checklist
In the event of an emergency in which staff, students and visitors are expected to evacuate school grounds safely and efficiently, security teams must ensure plans and policies are in place to guide residents towards a pre-approved safe location, staff must make sure:
- Egress points are clearly labeled, unobstructed and accessible during power outages
- Pressurized and well-maintained fire extinguishers are available
- Emergency lighting systems are present and operational throughout the property
- Laminated school building blueprints are prominently displayed around the campus
- Emergency response and fire drills are frequently performed by students and staff
- Independently powered communications devices are available to security personnel
- Security systems are regularly maintained, updated and serviced by professionals
Summary
All modern schools and colleges must have trusted emergency response plans in place to ensure all students, staff and visitors are protected from multifaceted threats. Security teams and school administrators must work together to develop intelligent systems and effective protocols to improve incident response times and appropriately address emergency events.
Teams can strengthen existing plans via the deployment of smart technology systems, with cloud-based management platforms enabling staff to receive real-time notifications, activate automated responses and adjust installed devices to better understand emerging threats. With these factors in mind, teams can develop effective school emergency response plans.