Wren Outlines Role of Video and Access Control in School Emergency Operations Plans

ATLANTA, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — According to a Wren Solutions study conducted in July 2007, only 28 percent of schools surveyed felt extremely confident that their emergency plan would be carried out effectively in a crisis. In a new ‘Bird’s Eye View’ advisory from Wren, “Using Video and Access Control to Maximum Advantage in an Emergency,” experts offer school resource officers (SROs) advice on how surveillance video and access control technologies can and should be used to their maximum advantage in an emergency. The results, according to Wren experts, are improved emergency response, search and rescue, and forensic investigations.

“School emergency plans exist so that teachers, students and administrators are all prepared and informed ahead of time on how they should respond in the event of an emergency. However, what these plans-on-paper frequently fail to account for are how video and access control can help key personnel and rescue teams respond second-to-second as an emergency unfolds in real-time,” said Jeff Floreno, director of operations and security strategy, Wren Solutions.

The article details how schools can use access control and video to contain and respond to a crisis such as an armed intruder or hostage situation, a fire, or a parking garage collapse on campus.

“For example, in the case of an armed intruder who has taken hostages in the cafeteria, law enforcement with real-time access via a Web browser into the video surveillance of that room can determine the condition of the hostages, monitor the shooter’s every move, and ultimately plan on how they will make optimal entry without risking loss of life. Access control plays a key role because it can help lock down areas near the cafeteria to safety personnel only, and bar students and staff from unknowingly entering the danger zone,” continued Floreno.

For additional ideas on how your school can better integrate video and access control for its emergency preparedness plans, Network Video + Education blog.

About Wren

Wren specializes in physical security technologies and services for retail, education, hospitality, healthcare and government facilities. The company’s solutions, including enterprise-class video management software, access control systems, security assessments, surveillance cameras and hardware, and professional services, enable organizations to protect people, assets and facilities, while empowering them with operational insights for better performance. Established in 1983 and headquartered in Jefferson City, MO, Wren is a member of the Security Industry Association (SIA), the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers (NASSLEO), and the National Retail Federation (NRF). Visit us at our website www.wrensolutions.com.

Wren®, the Wren logo, Encapsulon®, the Encapsulon logos, The Power to See Your Business, Wren IP Solutions, No Tools Required and Solution Set Series are trademarks of Wren. The trademarks that are followed by ® are registered trademarks in the U.S. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks mentioned herein are properties of their respective owners and are used for reference purposes only. The use of these trademarks does not indicate any affiliation with or sponsorship of or by Wren. ©2009 Wren. All rights reserved.

    Media Contact:
    Kathy Cabrera
    Carabiner Communications
    770.569.8221
    kcabrera@carabinerPR.com

SOURCE Wren Solutions