| Using an Emergency Response Notification System | | | | response notification system, you should also make |
| Effectively | | | | sure that they are aware of the plans which your |
| An emergency response notification system can be a | | | | company has in place for how they should deal with |
| great way to keep your employees and others | | | | such emergencies. Let them know who, if anyone, |
| informed as to the latest developments in case an | | | | they are supposed to contact, where they are |
| emergency situation arises, but if you and your | | | | supposed to go, and any specific steps they should |
| employees don't know how it works or what to | | | | take when reacting to a message sent by the |
| expect from its notifications then it may end up | | | | emergency response notification system. In most |
| causing more harm than good. The last thing that you | | | | cases specific instructions will be sent along with the |
| want in an emergency situation is for people to panic | | | | notification from the system, but it's always a good |
| and make things worse, which is why it's so | | | | idea to make sure that your employees know the |
| important that you properly train your managers and | | | | basics of your emergency plan even without the |
| employees on how to use the emergency response | | | | notification message to give them direction. It's |
| notification system to keep everything calm and | | | | important that they read the messages that the |
| under control. Here are some tips on how you can | | | | system receives in addition to knowing the plan, of |
| prepare your business to use your emergency | | | | course, since there will likely be additional information |
| response notification system properly and keep | | | | included which gives them details on the nature of |
| confusion to a minimum. | | | | the emergency as well as how they should react to |
| Be Prepared for Notification | | | | it. |
| One of the most important things that you can do in | | | | Practice, Practice, Practice |
| order to help improve the effectiveness of your | | | | The best way for your employees to be ready to |
| emergency response notification system is to make | | | | react to a message from the emergency response |
| sure that all of your employees are prepared in the | | | | notification system is for them to have semi-regular |
| event that they receive a notification from the | | | | drills which walk them through different emergency |
| system. These notifications may come in a variety of | | | | situations so that they will have an idea of what they |
| different methods, depending upon the system that | | | | should do in a variety of scenarios. Make sure that |
| you have and how you have it configured; some of | | | | they know in advance that there will be a drill |
| the more common methods of notification include | | | | planned, but don't tell them the time or the specifics |
| mass e-mails, recorded phone messages, cell phone | | | | of the emergency that will be simulated; you'll want |
| text messages, and notifications sent to a pager or | | | | them to be reacting in real time even though they |
| other mobile device. Make sure that employees are | | | | know that there isn't any real danger. If your |
| familiar with what these notifications might look or | | | | emergency response notification system is |
| sound like, and that they know to pay attention to | | | | programmed to automatically contact the police or |
| the messages that they receive and to take them | | | | other emergency services you should either disable |
| seriously. | | | | that feature for the drill or schedule it with them so |
| Have a Plan Ready | | | | that they may help you monitor response times or at |
| As you begin familiarizing your employees with the | | | | the very least will know that there isn't a real |
| warnings which are sent out by the emergency | | | | emergency situation at your company. |