4 Key Security Benefits Of Implementing Incident Report Systems On College Campuses

What Are Incident Report Systems?
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​Incident report systems help notify emergency services and authorities of any emergencies occurring in specific locations. In this instance, the location we are focusing on are college campuses. An incident report system is similar to a mass notification system, as it is geared towards notifying people and coordinating emergency response efforts. Incident report systems are integral to the success of emergency response plans on college campuses. These systems allow campuses to effectively manage any real or perceived threats that they face, and it helps them actively guard against damage and loss of life.
 
These systems come in handy due to the unique nature of a college campus. College campuses tend to be much larger than most office buildings or apartment complexes, and they are usually more densely populated. This means that in the event of an emergency, you have to notify more people over a wider surface area. Incident report systems like the DIR-S are uniquely geared towards making this possible. They work in conjunction with emergency safety plans and physical security measures to reduce the dangers that students and teachers face. Here are some of the key benefits of implementing incident report systems on college campuses:

1. Incident Report Systems Help Report Emergencies In Real Time

​One of the main benefits of an incident report system is that it helps college campuses spread the word of emergency incidents and threats in real time. College campuses feature many different people from all walks of life. Each of these people receives and processes information in a plethora of ways. This means that in the event of an emergency, real or perceived, everyone will react in a different way if they receive information at different times and from different sources. Incident report systems look to negate this possibility by reporting incidents in real time and in a uniform way that students, faculty, and staff are accustomed to. It is always best to have a standardized way of notifying your students and teachers of any impending threats.
 
As part of emergency response plans, incident report systems drastically increase the success of emergency response efforts. A reporting system like DIR-S helps keep everyone in the loop, which promotes safety. This means that teachers, students, and emergency workers will receive real time reports about the status of an emergency within their location. A feature like this comes in handy on large campuses where a threat might not be contained in one area. It allows information to be shared if an all clear is given, or if a threat is potentially going to escalate to another location. Time is of the essence in every emergency, and reporting incidents in real time allows for more efficient responses.  

2. Promote Faster Response Times From Emergency Responders

As I pointed out, time is of the essence, and no one understands this more than emergency responders. In order to provide emergency relief services to the best of their abilities, responders rely on accurate and timely information. Incident report systems help them achieve this. Utilizing an incident reporting system puts the entire college campus layout in the palms of a safety responders hands.
 
It allows them to communicate with people that are in need and also pinpoint which locations might need the most help. This is crucial on a college campus, especially one that responders might not be familiar with. Rather than spreading emergency responders thin to try and see where help is required, they can maximise their efforts and resolve the emergency in a timely fashion.
 
With an incident report system in place, emergency responders response times will sky rocket. Streamlining the response process benefits emergency responders and members of a college campus as well. Emergency safety plans that do not take advantage of streamlined forms of communication are risking the safety and well being of their students, faculty, and staff. Utilizing a system that keeps emergency responders in the loop helps promote faster response times, which leads to dangerous situations being taken care of in a timely manner. 

3. Help Foster Better Coordination And Communication

Incident report systems increase the level of coordination between emergency responders and individuals on a college campus. Coordination might very well be the unsung hero in most emergency plans because, without it, even the best-laid plans can fall apart. The need for enhanced coordination and communication protocols is even more prevalent on a college campus. Students, faculty, and staff should have an easy way of knowing what to do when they are faced with an emergency situation.
 
For example, if students are holed up in a classroom seeking refuge during a school lockdown in an emergency situation, they should have access to information that tells them about the state of things in their surrounding area. Access to this information will influence the actions they take if they are given the all clear or if there is danger headed their way. Ideally, college campuses should have an adequate means of securing the doors to all classrooms and offices, so that students or teachers are not left to improvise physical security measures that might leave them vulnerable.
 
Also, in the event of an injury, properly coordinating and communicating with emergency responders and emergency medical technicians (EMT) can potentially help save someone's life. Communication and coordination actively help speed up the way campuses share information and this, in turn, helps emergency responders get where they are needed in an efficient manner. 

4. Better Management Of Emergency Situations

​Incident report systems help college campuses gain a better grasp on managing emergency situations that crop up. Management simply means that college campuses react in the appropriate way in the face of any impending threats. Having the ability to notify members of your college community of any dangers they face allows your emergency safety plans to kick in without a hitch.
 
If an evacuation is necessary, everyone will have the necessary information that shows them where to go. College officials will be able to communicate with emergency response teams and notify them of the assistance they need. An incident report system is able to collect data from multiple sources within the college campus to give officials and emergency responders a better view of the work that needs to be done. Once college campuses have the tools to manage an emergency situation, they are poised to react better. 

Final Thoughts
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Staying safe in emergency situations that pop up on a college campus can be tricky. However,  with the help of incident report systems emergency responders are able to effectively reach all members of the college campus community and help them stay safe. 

Author: Ralph Goodman

Guest writer for Tresit Group. Lead writer over at the Lock Blog. Ralph has an expertise in all things that reside in the lock, safety, and security industry, and a knack for writing.