TLT05 | Creating Safer Schools with a Wireless Communications Strategy
- Room: Expo Hall THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THEATER Booth 2549
- Session Number: TLT05
Tuesday, January 24, 2023: 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
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Description
School systems spend a lot of time and resources working to ensure that their students have the right technology in place to a deliver a curriculum that is relevant for the digital age. Systems within the school are being modernized to deliver necessary content, whether in person, on tablets via Wi-Fi, or through Audio Visual networks. However, one network that is often neglected is the public safety communications system. Time and again, we’ve seen that a lack of effective communications has contributed to slow reaction time and poor situational awareness around emergency events. In any emergency, time is the most valuable commodity. The FCC estimated that 10,000 lives could be saved each year in the United States if response time is improved by just 1 minute. Wireless communications enable situational awareness and better responsiveness, which saves time.
The challenge is that our schools are often built with thick concrete and reflective glass with many rooms and hallways to efficiently move and house students. The downfall is that wireless signals have difficulty penetrating the building and reaching everyone in the building. Our reliance on cell phones for emergency communications, such as 911 calls and mass notifications, creates a situation that proves challenging for students, teachers, and administrators. Additionally, emergency responders rely on wireless communications to navigate unknown situations. Inconsistent enforcement of national codes further complicates the issue. This is where a proactive public safety communications strategy for today and for the future is necessary.
Please join Eric Toenjes, National Market Manager for Wireless Solutions at Graybar, and John Foley, Managing Director of the Safer Buildings Coalition, www.saferbuildings.org, as they help guide you through the challenges facing schools today, along with a path forward to begin mitigating them
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