Using Mass Notification

Installing a system at sporting and event complexes that benefit attendees

Event venues and sporting complexes pose unique security and communication challenges. Numerous factors, including crowd size, whether the event is indoors or outdoors and what time of day the event is taking place all impact how a safety plan is developed.

Effective Communication

Officials need to be prepared for large groups of people who will only be on their premises for a short period of time. Due to the attendance size and other distractions caused by whatever event people have come to see, it can be difficult to effectively communicate the proper actions people should take in the event of an emergency. Communications need to be quick and clear to provide useful information that attendees pay attention to and take action from.

Any kind of facility and event whether large or small, needs to be prepared to communicate safety instructions for the same kind of emergency situations any organization may face, including active shooters, fire, medical emergencies and other potentially dangerous incidents. A mass notification system can help venues plan for these kinds of incidents with prebuilt message templates that simultaneously deliver safety information in a variety of formats to a wide range of devices. This helps cut down on response time and goes a long way to making sure everyone is aware of what the situation is and what they should be doing.

This article will explain how different devices can integrate with a mass notification system to share emergency alerts throughout an event venue or sporting complex.

Connecting to Digital Signage

Event venues and sporting complexes utilize digital signage to provide enhanced visual assistance for attendees to see what is happening, but they can also be used to communicate safety messages. Jumbotrons, scoreboards, and signage in concourses can all be leveraged to share emergency notifications with clear visuals and messaging.

But how does that integration happen?

An RSS feed often provides a means for a mass notification system to integrate with digital signage and triggers alerts. The system monitors that feed for certain key phrases or commands and then automatically broadcasts an emergency message with the details from the RSS. This offers a simple and effective way to quickly broadcast emergency alerts throughout a stadium in a way that grabs people’s attention.

Leveraging IP Speakers

Visual alerts are an important element of any notification plan, but audio is just as important. Most venues will be equipped with state-of-theart sound systems to ensure large crowds can hear what is happening.

Integrating these with a mass notification system can offer an intrusive way to capture people’s attention and offer information about an event taking place. Since sound systems often have a greater reach than digital signage, having IP speakers be a part of a venue’s emergency communication plan is a must.

Mobile Opt-In Alerts

In addition to broadcasting safety instructions, digital signage and IP speakers can also be used to relay information for how attendees can sign up to receive notifications on their mobile phones. Language for these postings can be displayed around the stadium and should be straightforward. For example:

“To receive safety notifications during the event, text #safety to 555-555-5555.”

This offers attendees a simple way to receive notifications on their own devices, and it’s also easy for security officials to manage. Administrators of the mass notification system can configure lists for each event the venue hosts. Lists can be built throughout the event as people opt-in to receive alerts, and then can be set to expire once the event has ended. This can also be used to thank attendees for coming once the event concludes and encourage them to get home safely.

When it comes to emergency communication, every channel needs to be leveraged. Being able to utilize on-premises and mobile devices makes it much more likely everyone receives the information they need to stay safe.

Critical Event Management

Of course, in some instances, it may not be necessary to alert the entire venue about an emergency taking place. You may only want security personnel or higher level management to be aware and coordinate an appropriate response using critical event management tools and practices. In that case a mass notification system can provide assistance in two ways. The first is by designating groups and zones. Being able to section off certain areas of a venue, such as security and management offices, helps deliver notifications to the right audience. The other way is through integration with devices that won’t broadcast to an entire venue. Desk phones, desktop computers, two-way radios can all be used to deliver notifications on a smaller scale than the methods we’ve already mentioned.

Consider these options for mass notification to make sure the right people get the right message to stay out of harm’s way during events and at sporting complexes.

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”