The Benefits of a Silent Alarm Badge for Staff Protection
With workplace violence on the rise, having a panic button that also functions as a discreet, silent alarm badge is an easy way for companies to protect their staff because they already require them to wear a badge to identify themselves.
Silent alarm badges allow employees to discreetly send an alert for help without alarming others and to maintain a calm environment during an incident which is important in sensitive places like hospitals, schools, and hotels.
Types of Silent Panic Buttons
Other types of wearable panic buttons include pendants, keychains, or bracelets, but these are not as convenient as having a panic button that is part of an employee’s badge.
Silent Panic Button Benefits
A study in the Journal of Crime Science and a report by Safer Watch both indicate hidden panic alarms are more effective at managing duress incidents than visible alarms in some situations. Hidden or discreet alarms allow the wearer to create a few moments to get away from a potentially violent situation, which is a key advantage.
The same study in the Journal of Crime Science found that workers report feeling much safer with personal security alarms, including silent alarms, and have increased confidence on the job. Having a staff protection system becomes a valuable recruitment and retention tool during a time of staffing shortages in many industries.
Coverage
A silent alarm badge is also ideal for employees who move around frequently because they always have their badge and remain safe whether they are inside buildings, outside on campuses or walking to their cars in parking lots.
It is important for a staff protection system to cover employees no matter where they are–inside or outside of buildings such as parking lots, playgrounds, or athletic fields.
- A 2023 study by Campus Safety found the most common location for school shootings is in parking lots at 22.6 percent.
- A 2024 guide for healthcare/hospital active shooter preparation and response found about 60 percent of shootings have occurred outside of hospitals since 2000.
- A 2017 study in Tourism Management found around two-thirds of hotel-related crimes occurred in parking lots.
The Help Alert Badge
Help Alert, a staff protection system by RF Technologies, covers employees inside and outside buildings. Employees will enjoy the convenience and security of a combined badge and panic button in one.
The new RFT Help Alert Badge uses a proprietary blend of BLE/LoRa beacons, hubs, and gateways, with no need for wiring, so it is faster and more economical to set up than fixed panic alarm systems.
RFT’s Help Alert Badge has a real-time location (RTLS), including 3D-iD® pinpointing, and improves staff response times by utilizing multiple alert methods including browsers, desktops, the RFT CARES app, and third-party integrations with security cameras and 911.
The badge’s sleek design features a discreet button on the back, LED lights, and gentle vibrations to allow staff to call for help without alarming others or raising suspicion.
Conclusion
There are many silent alarm panic button systems on the market, but the best systems incorporate the safety and convenience of a badge which offers comprehensive indoor and outdoor coverage, RTLS location pinpointing, and integration with other systems so employees can know sooner, respond faster and cover more ground during an incident.
