Emergency Notification Systems and Crisis Communication – Blog

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are anchor institutions in our communities when it comes to safety and well-being during a time of crisis. They play a major role in most emergencies that happen — environmental incidents, vehicular accidents, infrastructure disasters, and active intruder or shooter tragedies. Because of the role they play in emergencies, they themselves must be even more prepared for emergencies that might happen at their facilities. Not only must they inform and guide the patients who visit these type of facilities, but the doctors and nurses, workers, and visitors inside must also be made aware and prepared for what to do next. No one day is the same and no one individual is the same who enters, so these centers must be ready for anything that comes their way. Ensuring they keep everyone safe means informing their constituents of an emergency and what guidance to follow if there is one.

There’s no sugar-coating the fact that this past winter has been a very harsh one. Much of the U.S. experienced more snow and ice than it had in years. With this severe weather came school and work closures; as well as, public transportation delays and shutdowns. On top of that, many roadside accidents. This winter 24% of all roadside accidents were related to snowy, slushy, or icy pavement. It’s no surprise that we all welcomed the first day of Spring with open arms - in search of sunshine, warm weather, and the promise of blooming flowers.

Corporate enterprises take many forms, including retail, distribution, insurance, banking, tourism, and hospitality venues. Each brings its own complexities, operational goals and challenges, and moral obligations to the table. Regardless of the genre of these enterprises, the goal of each should be the safety of their people and the mitigation of risk to their property.

Manufacturers have some of the most stringent worker safety standards of any industry. The government regulations are rigorous, including those under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Given the inherent risks and dangers within manufacturing facilities – from electrical to chemical to nuclear – safety managers must have a crisis communication solution and company mass notification system that is purpose-built to save lives and prevent injuries.

No matter a venue’s purpose or location, there are bound to be all sorts of emergency incidents that occur. Whether that be weather-related events, active intruders, medical emergencies, or even the presence of dangerous animals. It is the responsibility of the organization to keep their constituents informed of emergencies and provide guidance as to the actions to be taken in the case of an emergency. This responsibility is synonymous to having fire alarms in your building, the display of exit plans, and the accompanying drills.

For most of us, when we hear severe winter weather we imagine sheets of white snow covering the roads — potentially allowing us to work from home or have the day off from work and school. Heavy snow is what many of us fear most when we think of winter weather. It can cause delays - or even cancellations - in our day to day lives. Although snowstorms can be brutal, organizations typically react as proactively as possible to prepare the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots with salt — and have the snow plows and shovels ready.