Help/suggestions for lockdown phone app solution

[ITea]

Hi

 

We currently use NetSupport Notify as our method of informing people of a lockdown. While this is a good product, our setup means that many people during the day would not be near a PC to hear/see an alert. For that reason the 'capture all' solution would seem to be a phone app that all staff use, which makes a loud audible sound, with associated message, regardless of phone settings. An SMS option for those using non-smartphones would be a good option too. 

 

Does anyone use something like this that they can recommend? If so I'd be grateful for any info, including the pricing structure. 

 

Many thanks.

[Steve101]

I really don't understand why places keep trying to reinvent the wheel with these emergency procedures, if the fire alarm was invented today it would be a message sent out to your computer 🙄

Edited March 20, 2025 by Steve101

[ITea]

1 hour ago, Steve101 said:

I really don't understand why places keep trying to reinvent the wheel with these emergency procedures, if the fire alarm was invented today it would be a message sent out to your computer 🙄

Thanks for the reply Steve.

 

Our fire alarm system however is not centralized, with many buildings on sperate systems. There is also the concern that, even with different alerts sounds, the fire alarm system and a lockdown system should not be used for the same thing, to avoid confusion. The last thing you want is groups of people filing outside into danger, under the mistaken belief there is a fire alarm.

 

Staff/pupils can also be on sports fields, returning trips/sports teams, as well as grounds, domestic, maintenance and catering staff travelling around site - all of whom could be out of earshot of a fire alarm. 

 

Everyone's situation is different, with differing levels of complexity, which is why, for us, I'm interested in the phone app solution, which stands the best chance of reaching the most people in one go. 

 

[Steve101]

The point is a fire alarm works well, so don't reinvent what isn't broken.

 

Use a different alarm system with notably different sounds, or spoken word. These should also be external on site, and with flashing lights.  Your computer notifications and loud speaker phone solutions won't be heard on the sports fields, or catering staff carrying things between sites.

[LukeRowberry]

For something that serious I wouldn't want to be responsible for ensure an app works and that all devices have data to receive it. Asking for trouble there...

As a backup solution I can potentially see a benefit but if you are looking for something that makes a noise and displays a message on a phone I'd just go with sms.

 

 

[ITea]

 

 

All points taken and considered, and I understand your point Steve (the fire alarm was one of the first things I looked at) but our fire alarm system will not work work well without considerable cost to cover a very large and complex site. Plus, like I said, our management are of the opinion that a fire alarm (despite using different sounds) can potentially cause confusion.

 

Ultimately, there is no one solution that covers everything perfectly, it's a case of choosing the one that best fits your situation. Data coverage in our area is very good and, if the app can be set to override all settings, sounding a load tone (much like the recent government test), there is no missing it.

 

If anyone has any experience or advice for such a solution, I would be interested to hear your perspective. If we deem such a solution is not a good fit, then it will be 'back to the drawing board'!

 

 

[Steve101]

Could you imagine people saying an alarm in case of fire is too costly, or doesn't cover all areas perfectly.

 

You shouldn't use your fire alarm system, you should implement a separate alarm system at whatever cost is required.. These conversations are only happening because schools are refusing to pay for the correct solution. Nobody will mistake an alarm that says "Intruder, lock down"

[ITea]

A fire alarm is a much easier and cheaper to install in buildings that already contain the power and infrastructure needed, so that's not an entirely fair comparison. Running systems externally to multiple and remote sports fields costs a lot more.

 

For schools in tight financial situations, "whatever cost is required" might not an option, especially when money the money that is available has to be balanced and prioritized between all the other safety and wellbeing aspects in a school. A lot of schools simply rely on the likes of Netsupport Notify, which might work for some, but not for us.

 

I will be presenting all options regardless, and you are entitled to your option (eyerolls and all) but I would be grateful if we could stick to the information I had initially asked for. 

 

If anyone does use anything along the lines of the initial request on this thread, I will be very grateful to hear about it. 

 

[Steve101]

I can tell you haven't researched appropriate solutions, you sound more fixed on making it a technical problem to fix with apps and phones to save money. I'm of the opinion that saving lives shouldn't be a cost saving exercise.

 

https://luminite.co.uk/alertex/

[HC_Netman]

You could try Cosafe - https://cosafe.com/ I met them at Bett and they might have what you are looking for.

 

We don't use it though. we have an alarm with a different sound to a fire alarm. Once that sounds staff are instructed to open a Google Space where they have read access only and managers can send messages and instructions. They can open the Google Space on mobiles and desktop clients so we felt that covered what we needed as long as everyone can hear the alarm sound.

 

 

[DWilson1997]

Something like Informacast which can centralise lots of different products for mass notification might be useful 

 

Mass Notification System, InformaCast - Singlewire Software

[ITea]

33 minutes ago, Steve101 said:

I can tell you haven't researched appropriate solutions, you sound more fixed on making it a technical problem to fix with apps and phones to save money. I'm of the opinion that saving lives shouldn't be a cost saving exercise.

 

https://luminite.co.uk/alertex/

Thanks Steve - I wish you mentioned that at the start! 

 

I think we've been rubbing each other up the wrong way a bit. You're right, I haven't seen those, which look really interesting, I will contact them for pricing and ask how may we would need for our numerous, separate and old buildings. I'll add it to the list of suggestions to present to our Bursar (who will ultimately make the decision).

 

I can assure you that I far prefer a simple and practical solution, but I am also highly aware of the cost restraints we are currently operating under and, ultimately, it won't be my decision. Most people for example would prefer fire suppression systems in every room to accompany their fire alarms, as well as multiple security guards patrolling perimeters, but how many can afford them? That's not a cost saving exercise, it's a harsh reality. We do the very best we can within our means.

 

 

[ITea]

1 hour ago, HC_Netman said:

You could try Cosafe - https://cosafe.com/ I met them at Bett and they might have what you are looking for.

 

We don't use it though. we have an alarm with a different sound to a fire alarm. Once that sounds staff are instructed to open a Google Space where they have read access only and managers can send messages and instructions. They can open the Google Space on mobiles and desktop clients so we felt that covered what we needed as long as everyone can hear the alarm sound.

 

 

Many thanks - I'll check them out. 

[ITea]

1 hour ago, DWilson1997 said:

Something like Informacast which can centralise lots of different products for mass notification might be useful 

 

Mass Notification System, InformaCast - Singlewire Software

Thanks D. I'll see what they offer. 

[Hoyt]

All of our school buildings have intercom systems throughout.  They just announce a lockdown over the intercom.  I didn't know things had gotten so complicated.

 

Any time students are taken outside the adult in charge carries a radio so they can be contacted if need be.

[mgillroy]

Audiebant have developed a mobile app for mass notification/lockdown. Maybe ask around to see if anyone has used it yet. I'm not sure if it can be used standalone or has to be used in conjunction with their physical PA systems.

 

Their PA systems may also be worth a look. I haven't personally used them but you schedule audio, play pre-recorded messages and do live text-to-speech so would be good for class change too. The system I have seen was just mini-PCs (referred to as 'players') connected to a standard off-the-shelf 100V PA amplifier for each zone. 

[Jobos]

@ITea what did you decide to use in the end? We are looking at Netsupport Notify but it lacks an Android mobile console so the head is not happy.

[ITea]

On 07/11/2025 at 13:46, Jobos said:

@ITea what did you decide to use in the end? We are looking at Netsupport Notify but it lacks an Android mobile console so the head is not happy.

We went for teamSOS in the end. They seem to be pretty good with their support and development direction. 

 

The individual setup of schools, from their site and building layout, to their operational structure, mean the myriad of potential scenarios make this service particularly challenging. For us, having the ability to put an app on phones for staff on sports fields/trips/away sports fixtures/part time hours/being off site for lunch, is a very useful. This is complemented by the desktop alert app, set to run on staff login. 

[Steve101]

13 minutes ago, ITea said:

We went for teamSOS in the end. They seem to be pretty good with their support and development direction. 

 

The individual setup of schools, from their site and building layout, to their operational structure, mean the myriad of potential scenarios make this service particularly challenging. For us, having the ability to put an app on phones for staff on sports fields/trips/away sports fixtures/part time hours/being off site for lunch, is a very useful. This is complemented by the desktop alert app, set to run on staff login. 

 

How does this alert meet the standard of having a distinguishably different alert? If you have your phone on vibrate, is this different from an sms alert?

[Jobos]

15 minutes ago, ITea said:

We went for teamSOS in the end. They seem to be pretty good with their support and development direction. 

 

The individual setup of schools, from their site and building layout, to their operational structure, mean the myriad of potential scenarios make this service particularly challenging. For us, having the ability to put an app on phones for staff on sports fields/trips/away sports fixtures/part time hours/being off site for lunch, is a very useful. This is complemented by the desktop alert app, set to run on staff login. 

 

It looks good, what sort of price is teamSOS?

 

We have had prices from CoSafe at £1600 and Netsupport Notify £100 although to be fair CoSafe looks far more advance than Notify.

 

[ITea]

1 hour ago, Steve101 said:

 

How does this alert meet the standard of having a distinguishably different alert? If you have your phone on vibrate, is this different from an sms alert?

The alert can be set to different tones, the standard is a Morse SOS style. 

 

There is an app-specific setting to override any silent settings on the phone. making the alert tone sound regardless. 

[ITea]

2 hours ago, Jobos said:

 

It looks good, what sort of price is teamSOS?

 

We have had prices from CoSafe at £1600 and Netsupport Notify £100 although to be fair CoSafe looks far more advance than Notify.

 

Minus the one-off setup fee of £200, it costs us £850 (excl VAT) a year to cover up to 250 staff accounts. 

[flyinghaggis]

On 20/03/2025 at 13:18, Steve101 said:

Could you imagine people saying an alarm in case of fire is too costly, or doesn't cover all areas perfectly.

 

You shouldn't use your fire alarm system, you should implement a separate alarm system at whatever cost is required.. These conversations are only happening because schools are refusing to pay for the correct solution. Nobody will mistake an alarm that says "Intruder, lock down"

 

Exactly this +1 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by flyinghaggis