Enhancing School Safety: A Firsthand Account
At St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama, safety is not just a priority; it’s a commitment. Covering a sprawling 80-acre campus with over 1,400 students and 220 faculty members, the school faced unique challenges in ensuring efficient and effective emergency communication. This is where Intrado Safety Suite became a game-changer.
The Need for a Robust Communication System
Alex Lott, Director of Security at St. Paul’s Episcopal School and a seasoned law enforcement professional, recognized a critical gap in the school’s emergency response capabilities. “During an emergency, the first thing to go is communication,” Lott explained. The campus’s large size and the distributed nature of its buildings posed significant hurdles to timely and coordinated responses.
After a six-month search involving numerous demos, the team at St. Paul’s selected Intrado Safety Suite for its ease of use, GPS-based alerting, and customizable features. “The user-friendliness was a major factor,” Lott emphasized. “If I can’t use it easily, I can’t expect 250 others to use it easily.”
A Critical Incident: Intrado in Action
The true test of Intrado’s effectiveness came during a medical emergency in a chemistry class. A student suffered multiple seizures during class, and the teacher’s immediate focus was on administering first aid. With minimal instruction, another student was able to access the teacher’s desktop panic button and activate the “Urgent Medical Assistance” alert. Within 15 seconds, key personnel—including the school nurse, administrators, and Lott—were notified and on their way to the scene.
“The student had never used the system before,” Lott recounted. “Yet, she managed to navigate it effortlessly, which speaks volumes about its intuitive design.”
The alert also reached nearby teachers, ensuring that the affected classroom received immediate assistance. Thanks to the swift action enabled by Intrado, the student was stabilized before additional medical help arrived. “For me, the biggest takeaway was that even if you don’t use it perfectly, the system ensures the necessary information gets out,” Lott said.
Comprehensive Features for a Complex Campus
With 17 buildings spread across two campuses, St. Paul’s leverages Intrado’s GPS mapping and geofencing capabilities to pinpoint incidents with precision. Each desktop panic button is labeled with the teacher’s name and room number, streamlining responses.
Beyond emergencies, the Safety Suite’s integrated chat groups for different grade levels and divisions have revolutionized day-to-day communication. From fire drills to administrative updates, the system ensures everyone stays informed. “It’s a simple concept, but it alleviates so much miscommunication,” Lott noted.
Why Intrado?
When asked why St. Paul’s chose Intrado over other solutions, Lott highlighted three key factors: ease of access, user-friendliness, and customization. “The ability to tailor alerts, permissions, and geofences to our specific needs is invaluable,” he said. “Our campus looks like a college campus, and Intrado adapts perfectly to our unique requirements.”
The school’s journey with Intrado isn’t over. Plans are underway to integrate additional features, like Safety Suite’s Revolution on-premises notification solution to further enhance their safety protocols.
Setting a Standard in School Safety
St. Paul’s Episcopal School stands as a model for how educational institutions can proactively address safety challenges. By adopting Intrado Safety Suite, the school has not only improved emergency response times but also fostered a culture of preparedness and trust. “For us, it’s not just about having a system; it’s about having the right system,” Lott concluded.
Through their partnership with Intrado, St. Paul’s has set a new standard for school safety, demonstrating that when communication is clear and efficient, lives can be saved.
Learn more about Intrado Safety Suite here.
Intrado – Always there in an emergency.