Invented by Brian M. Lyman, Kevin G. Cherven, Emergency Alert Solutions Group LLC
The Emergency Alert Solutions Group LLC invention works as follows
Some embodiments relate to a lockdown device for facilitating the initiation of lockdown processes at a facility with multiple doors that is designed for occupancy by facility occupants. The lockdown actuator, which is located at the facility, is configured to transmit a lockdown signal when actuated. It can be distinguished from the fire alarm mechanism. The lockdown communicator can produce a lockdown communication to communicate the initiation of lockdown to facility occupants as well as individuals who are not located near the facility, upon transmission of the signal. This lockdown communication is recognizably different from the fire alert communication. “A display is configured for each of the multiple door statuses of the facility to be displayed upon transmission of a lockdown initiation message, including the at least two statuses of locked and unlocked.Background for Lockdown apparatus to initiate lockdown procedures in an emergency at a facility
The present disclosure is about methods and apparatus that enhance safety and/or secure in situations that could be dangerous. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed at addressing safety or security issues such as those involving or related to emergency situations in facilities.
Unfortunately violent incidents, including shootings in or near schools, in the United States have been a common occurrence since decades. In the 40 years leading up to the April. In the U.S., school shootings have killed more than 150 people, including students and teachers, since 1999. In the 14 years following Columbine alone, more than 190 people have died in school shootings. In the last few years, shootings have increased in other places, including hospitals, malls and movie theaters.
The free flow of information on the internet, the proliferation of guns and the ease of obtaining them, the limitations of mental health institutions and the lack jobs in the economic environment all work to increase the likelihood of mass shootings. This threat is huge because of the number of possible targets. “For example, there are over 132,000 K-12 public and private schools in the United States, as well as over 4,400 colleges, universities and daycare centers.
The handling of violent situations within schools and other institutions has been the subject of much media attention and discussion in the past decade. This is due to the high number of incidents of violence and the media coverage that accompanied them. The related art does not provide any method or apparatus that can adequately address the above threat. For example, it fails to provide a way of preventing or impeding shootings or other forms of violence. This failure of the related art is particularly egregious in comparison to the resources that are allocated for other safety-related issues which generate or otherwise involve less casualties. Fire safety, for example, is heavily regulated in state and federal codes, which require that all schools maintain resilient fire alarm systems and regularly conduct effective fire drills. This, despite the fact that no U.S. student has died in an American school fire during the past 50 years.
It may be advantageous to provide apparatus and methods for improving safety and/or enhancing security in potentially hazardous situations and, in particular, addressing safety or security issues which are related to or involve emergencies. Some embodiments address emergencies involving shootings and/or violence in facilities. This includes but is not limited to situations involving active shooter situations, lockdown procedures or other lockdown-related situations. These embodiments are aimed at situations wherein it is beneficial to confine facility occupants in a locked room or other secured location to minimize the risk of injury or death resulting from an active shooter scenario. Some embodiments disclosed are therefore directed at, or operate in, lockdown scenarios at such facilities that involve active shooter situations.
It is intended that embodiments in the present disclosure can be applied to any facility type, whether indoor or outdoor, or a combination of both. This includes but is not limited to: 1) Buildings and/or grounds; 2) Aircraft, Ships and other types related to transportation; 3) Any other type of areas that could be affected by safety or security issues. These include underground or underwater facilities; offshore platforms, such oil rigs; outdoor gathering places, such outdoor flea markets and malls; sports arenas; etc. The embodiments of the disclosure are not intended to be limited to situations of active shooters, but rather can be used in situations of any kind of danger, including situations of any kind of emergency. The embodiments of this disclosure aim to improve the safety and/or the security of any object, such as people, animals, and other organisms. Personal and real property is also included.
Many embodiments disclosed herein are intended to address emergency situations that may occur in or around buildings such as schools and pre-schools; colleges, universities, training facilities, recreation facilities, country clubs and sports clubs (including health clubs); restaurants, banks, offices of government and/or commercial nature, courts, factories, apartments, condos and housing complexes; residences and condominiums; shopping malls and grocery stores; automotive dealerships and shops in shopping centers and shopping malls. Other facilities include airports and bus terminals. These embodiments address a variety of emergencies, including violent incidents such as those involving firearms or other dangerous weapons. Although much of the disclosure is based on the specific application of active shooter incidents in schools, the inventive aspects can be used in other facilities and situations such as weather-related emergencies, facility investigation, etc.
Some of these disclosed embodiments include devices that directly or indirect address the above safety and/or Security issues.” In the present disclosure, the term “apparatus” is meant to cover any tangible object, software, or computer programs that can perform the disclosed operations, calculations, and determinations. Other embodiments are directed at methods of manufacturing and/or using the above apparatus. Other embodiments relate to manufacturing methods and/or using methods for the apparatus. Other embodiments relate to procedures or methods for directly or indirect addressing the safety and/or the security issues. For example, the lockdown procedures can be used in conjunction with or in isolation from above apparatus.
Various embodiments disclosed for lockdown situations relate directly or indirectly to methods and apparatus that: 1) initiate and/or communicate the lockdown; 2) follow procedures following the initiation of a lockdown and/or communicating thereof; or 3) terminate or otherwise communicate the termination of a locked down situation. Below are some aspects of the methods and apparatus, as well as an index for your convenience.
I. “I.
II. Procedures Subsequent to Initiation/Communication of Lockdown
III. “III.
I. “I.
Embodiments” are meant to cover various methods and devices for initiating or communicating a lockdown. Below are a few exemplary apparatus and methods, which are provided for illustration purposes only and not to be taken as an exhaustive or mandatory listing. “Embodiments” are meant to encompass all known, related arts, and/or newly developed technologies that can be used for any and all operations described below or elsewhere in the disclosure, in order to initiate and/or communicate a lockdown.
A. Actuator
Some embodiments include an actuator for facilitating the initiation of lockdown procedure. Embodiments may include or involve any type actuator that facilitates initiation of lockdown procedures. This includes known, related arts, and/or technologies later developed.
1. “1.
Some embodiments include an actuator that can be operated manually by the user. This actuator, or multiple actuators, can be operated manually to initiate lockdown or lockdown procedures. The manual actuators can be of any type, but many embodiments use actuators which are intuitive and easy to operate while being configured to prevent accidental or unintentional activation.
a. Configuration of the Actuator
In some embodiments, a button or switch (which is in some embodiments circular) facilitates the initiation of lockdown protocols when pressed. In some embodiments the button must be depressed with sufficient force or for a predetermined period of time to prevent or reduce unintentional or accidental actuations. In certain embodiments, an actuator or a button are configured to improve recognition or identification, especially when compared to other switches and apparatus such as fire alarm pull stations or those located near the actuator. Size, shape, texture, color, placement, disposition, orientation and method of operation are all examples of actuator configurations which facilitate identification. As indicated above, however, it is important that the actuator embodiments be configured to allow for intuitive and relatively simple operation, to enable swift actuation by a variety of people, including children, in highly stressful situations.
Some embodiments include a manually operated actuator that is permanently located at a specific location. Some embodiments, for example, include a manually operated actuator permanently located at a particular location. It may be advantageous to have the actuator in these embodiments disposed at a reception desk, for example at or near a main school entrance, where it can easily be operated by school officials at that location. The officials located near the main entrance of the school may be the first to recognize situations that warrant a lockdown. For example, an active shooter entering the school. Thus, convenient actuation of the lockdown by these officials can expedite the process. It may also be advantageous to place a static, manually operated actuator near or in the office of the principal or vice-principal for various reasons. For example, to allow easy actuation from an official authorized to initiate lockdown.
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