School emergency alert recommendations

[Will.B]

I've not used it but have heard of others that do but may be worth asking what https://teamsos.co.uk/ charge?

 

Worth looking at TeamSOS, great platform!

[E_G_R2]

If your school only relies on screen notifications what happens to staff who are not near a screen such as catering, site and sports staff?

[stumot]

So Basically via the gpo files policy we deploy some batch files and a video to a folder "c:\program files\Lockdown" the video is just a PowerPoint that's looped at 30 minutes, we then call two other batch files via one batch file as it saves running the command twice, we call them via the impero console "run/website files" command

 

The first batch file just basically calls the other two, batch files do the following:

 

1. displayswitch.exe /clone <- this is for the teachers who use extend, sets it back to duplicate so that they definitely see the message, then once the screen is duplicated the video is then played via VLC

 

2. c:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" "C:\PROGRAM FILES\LOCKDOWN\Lockdown.mp4" --loop --fullscreen

 

That's all really, as long as the files are in the right place and accessible it should work, again it does the job for us but cant do the same as a lot of paid solutions which have all the bells and whistles

 

I believe if you wanted to go one step further with this you could look into installing something like NirCMD which would enable you to set the volume via command line to ensure that the message his heard on muted machines

 

Hope this is of some use, if you have any more questions just let me know

[Rob_D]

We used to use Winsent Messenger (which worked okay), but now use Bodet for lockdown/emergency messages as well as lesson change (and the DH playing music at the end of term).

[tmleafs]

Just had SLT come to me saying there's a change to the law/rules for lockdowns in which sound can't be used (I can't find anything on this but I just need to find a solution)

Only yesterday I got an email from NetSupport Notify which we have about their integration with TeamSOS

 

I had ever heard of TeamSOS until that email but it ticks a huge amount of boxes plus I would love to get rid of walkie-talkies

 

But the Head is so against personal mobiles being used for anything school-related that I just can't think of any alternatives. Even though most staff ignore the policy and have Edulink, Inventry, Gmail etc apps installed

Yes we already have NetSupport Notify but sending out a lockdown message isn't quick, and not everyone is on their computers or paying attention to that screen

I have a call scheduled with TeamSOS at 2 pm

 

I like @stumot idea but it all comes down to me and it working which I want no part of

[CrootUK]

We have just had a audiebant sound system put in across one our campuses for lockdown, could you ask the staff member if they have any supporting evidence for the sound no longer allowed claim if possible please? I also cannot find anything online for this? Edited October 5, 2023 by CrootUK

[tmleafs]

How much did the audiebant sound system cost? We need a new tannoy system anyway

I will try to ask where they found this information but SLT was in a panic over it last night during their meeting

[CrootUK]

IT didn’t lead the project, came from SLT + Head so we had no visibility of the order, apologies, I could ask.

 

Thanks would be appreciated.

[Rob_D]

In the DFE's "lockdown template" document, it says:

Wherever possible use silent communications and keep noise to a minimum especially if the intruders are close by

I don't think this means "no audible alarm" but I can see how might be read that way.

Just a guess.

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f6338598fa8f51069100606/Lockdown_template.docx

[enjay]

In the DFE's "lockdown template" document, it says:

 

I don't think this means "no audible alarm" but I can see how might be read that way.

Just a guess.

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f6338598fa8f51069100606/Lockdown_template.docx

 

Agreed. My read of that is not to use phones and radios, rather than don't have an audible alarm.

[ITGURU]

We had Alertus which can display a message on the computer display and they have a free version for education.

Do you have contact details for this please? interested. thanks.

[JOrdan01070]

Hi @ITGURU the contact I had is Dan Biggar email is [email protected] this contact was from 2018 not sure if they are still there, we had the desktop donation initiative. Link to web page https://www.alertus.com/safe-in-seconds

 

Hope this helps.

Edited October 7, 2023 by JOrdan01070
update info

[Cw2k]

Tim Ditto is our current regional account manager in the education department [email protected]

[3s-gtech]

I had a look at alertus this week - seems to be a flexible solution with the integration to fire panels etc. It could be a way for us to go with a new alarm going in.

[PotNoodleTech]

I had a look at alertus this week - seems to be a flexible solution with the integration to fire panels etc. It could be a way for us to go with a new alarm going in.

 

Hey dude - any idea if it links in with door access like Paxton Net2 too?

 

Cheers

[chazzy2501]

You can get an alert system for my epson projectors, if they are on the lan they can wake up and display a message! Also the Unifi, cameras I have, do have an AI function to alert if it hears a fire alarm. (not tested though)

[georginarzepko]

+1 on teamsos ! Have heard great things and looks like the right price point

[georginarzepko]

Given they don't list PA systems under communication arrangements suggests to me they won't support verbal instructions/info being communicated via a PA.. which does make sense i suppose? Maybe a lockdown alarm sound only via a PA is fine..

[3s-gtech]

Hey dude - any idea if it links in with door access like Paxton Net2 too?

 

Cheers

If your Net2 is interfaced to the alarm it should do - it depends what your common interface point is. What do you want it to do?

[PotNoodleTech]

If your Net2 is interfaced to the alarm it should do - it depends what your common interface point is. What do you want it to do?

 

We've had Net2 put in by the LA for door access and the external gates. It interfaces with the fire alarm but that's all I know. We have a big red lockdown button (physical) and a software button which locks the mag lock doors and external gates

 

We already had Netsupport notify for sending out messages previous to the net 2 install.

 

We want to try and get it so when the lockdown button is pressed on paxton, netsupport (or some other software/method) sends out a message to the teacher PCs too.

[MartinT]

We have Bodet Harmonys lesson bells that double up nicely as a lockdown alert system.

 

https://www.bodet-time.com/products/audio-alert-systems/ip-audio-system.html

[Zombie_Tech]

We currently use Netsupport Notify and it's perfect for what we need. We have templates setup which can be sent at a push of a button should we need to. To reduce cost we have only Installed it on our Staff machines.

[STSM2113]

TeamSOS?

[lawrenceR]

Happy to answer any questions you have.

L.

[GrumbleDook]

It is worth mentioning that NetSupport Notify will integrate with TeamSOS too.