Panic Button Wearables: Enhancing Safety in Schools and Hotels
In December 2021, the principal at Eagle Point Elementary School in Broward County, Florida received an anonymous bomb threat. Using a silent panic alarm app on her phone, she alerted police and within seconds her image appeared on multiple screens in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. They were able to immediately give her instructions to evacuate the school, and call the fire department and bomb squad.
Thankfully, the threat was unfounded – called in by a student as a joke. But the incident highlights the importance of panic button technology in enabling rapid emergency response. The Broward County school district, which serves over 251,000 students, adopted the silent panic alarm system in the wake of the tragic 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Following Parkland, Florida passed Alyssa’s Law in 2020, named after 14-year-old victim Alyssa Alhadeff, requiring all public schools to install silent panic alarms directly linked to law enforcement. Since then, five other states – New Jersey, New York, Texas, Tennessee and Utah – have approved similar legislation.
While aimed at protecting against the threat of active shooters, data shows the panic buttons are more frequently used for medical emergencies. A report from Centegix, a major provider of the technology, found that 98% of some 15,000 alerts in Texas schools were for health incidents like seizures or cardiac arrests.
Hotels Adopt Panic Buttons to Protect Workers
The hospitality industry has also recognized the benefits of equipping workers with panic buttons. In recent years, hotel staff have spoken out about widespread issues of sexual harassment and assault on the job, sparking a push for better safety measures.
Legislation mandating panic buttons for hotel workers has now passed in New Jersey, Washington, Illinois, and several major cities. Major hotel brands like Marriott have pledged to provide all housekeepers and on-property staff with safety alert devices. The American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 5-Star Promise, committing to improved safety policies and panic buttons, has been adopted by an estimated 20,000 properties nationwide.
Companies like jethotelsolutions.com offer cutting-edge panic button solutions tailored for the needs of hotels and businesses. Their wearable devices replace outdated walkie-talkies and radios with an easy-to-use, cost-effective system that keeps staff connected and safe.
Jon Schniepp, senior vice president of marketing at Relay, a leading hospitality panic button provider, notes that hotels often adopt the technology across all properties once mandated in a particular state or city. “It makes sense not just from a human perspective,” he said. “It’s also good business sense to make sure that your staff is in a safe environment. The workers are going to move to where they feel most comfortable.”
The Evolution of Portable Communication Devices
The concept of portable, wireless communication devices dates back nearly a century, to the invention of the first “walkie-talkie” by Canadian Don Hings in 1937. Initially developed for military use during World War II, these bulky backpack-sized devices allowed troops to communicate wirelessly over short distances.
Over the decades, walkie-talkies evolved and expanded into business and recreational use. Advances in miniaturized electronics and radio technology drove the development of today’s lightweight, multi-featured devices.
Modern panic buttons build upon this foundation, leveraging cloud connectivity, precise location tracking, and seamless network switching to provide robust emergency communication. When activated, the wearables transmit an instant alert to safety personnel, showing the exact location and identity of the staff member in distress.
Enhancing Safety with Jethotelsolutions.com
For hotels, schools, and businesses looking to improve staff safety, investing in a panic button solution is increasingly vital. jethotelsolutions.com offers tailored systems to fit the unique needs and budgets of each client, with wearable devices that are easy to deploy and use.
As more states and cities implement panic button mandates and industry leaders commit to improved worker protections, these technologies will only become more ubiquitous. Contact jethotelsolutions.com today to learn how their solutions can help keep your employees safe and connected.