Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has signed Alyssa’s Law, a significant measure mandating the installation of silent panic alarms in all state schools, marking a huge step to enhance school safety. In the event of a crisis, this preventive measure seeks to protect the safety of staff, instructors, and students as well as speeding up emergency response times.
Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the seventeen people who sadly died in the Parkland school shooting in Florida in 2018, is the inspiration behind Alyssa’s Law. By mandating the installation of a quiet panic alarm system, the law aims to give a higher level of security to schools and improve response times in the event of an emergency. By providing law enforcement and emergency responders with this technology at schools, authorities may quietly and quickly alert them to possible threats, enabling a quicker and more efficient response to emergency situations.
Alyssa’s Law requirements
Under Alyssa’s Law, schools in Utah must set up an emergency alert system that anticipates, stops, and safeguards students and staff in the event of a life-threatening emergency. Application for emergency response must include:
- Automatic alerts for designated school personnel during emergencies initiated by smartphone applications, phone calls, text messages, or other technologies.
- Critical situational information for emergency responders during 911 calls.
- Real-time integration of designated school personnel with emergency responders for situational updates.
How to prepare for Alyssa’s Law
Convergint is ready to support Districts in getting ready for the implementation of Alyssa’s Law. Local Convergint experts have extensive knowledge in the latest security regulations and technological advancements as well as a State of Utah contract that can be utilized for the procurement process. They may give recommendations and guidance on how to choose and install silent panic alarms that satisfy the unique needs and financial constraints of each District.
