FALSE ALARM PREVENTION FOR SCHOOLS 1

Introduction 2  What is a false alarm?  Why are false alarms a problem?  How do alarm systems work?  What are some causes of false alarms?  What can you do to prevent false alarms? FARA Tips for Schools

What is a False Alarm? 3 False Burglar Alarm - A notification of an alarm to law enforcement when the responding authority finds no evidence of criminal offense or attempted criminal offense False Fire Alarm - A notification of a fire signal, resulting from a cause other than an actual fire FARA Tips for Schools

Effects of False Alarms 4 Takes officers and fire fighters away from real emergencies Wastes public resources Delay response when you really need it FARA Tips for Schools

False Alarm Effects 5 Endangers responding authorities and the whole community FARA Tips for Schools

Another False Alarm 6 FARA Tips for Schools

7 May make you reluctant to arm your system, exposing your school to undetected theft Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Schools

8 Cost time & money False alarm Fines Lost time Service charges Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Schools

Police Dispatched The Alarm Process Intruder Trips Control Panel On site Siren Sounds Alarm Sent to Alarm Company Central Station Fire Trips Control Panel On site Fire Dispatched 9 Alarm Company Calls to Verify Then Calls Public Safety FARA Tips for Schools

COMMON CAUSES OF FALSE ALARMS… 10 Lack of proper training for people given access to your school, such as teachers, coaches, workers, meeting attendees, etc… FARA Tips for Schools

More Common Causes 11 Improperly trained new staff FARA Tips for Schools

More Common Causes 12 Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows Weak batteries FARA Tips for Schools

13 Drafts from heating/air conditioning systems and signs moving plants, balloons, etc. Another... FARA Tips for Schools

14 And a Few More... Insects, dust or dirt on motion or smoke sensors FARA Tips for Schools

15 Last but not Least... Cooking fumes will trip smoke detectors FARA Tips for Schools

False Alarm Prevention Tips for Schools 16 FARA Tips for Schools

Before You Activate 17 Check with your local jurisdiction for registration requirements FARA Tips for Schools

Before You Activate Understand how the alarm system works; what it does and does not do. Ask your alarm company for written instructions, a DVD and a demonstration 18 FARA Tips for Schools

Before Turning on your Alarm System when leaving… 19 Make sure all alarmed doors and windows are locked Restart the exit time if you reenter FARA Tips for Schools

Keep Clear of Motion Detectors 20 Keep balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, decorations & birds from motion sensor areas FARA Tips for Schools

After Hours Visitors FARA Tips for Schools 21 Develop a plan to deal with afterhours visitors Don’t give users a key until they are trained on the proper use of the system

Teach ALL users how to operate your system, including: Arming codesArming codes PasswordsPasswords Phone numbersPhone numbers Cancellation proceduresCancellation procedures Training is Important! 22 FARA Tips for Schools

Train Early & Often 23 Train all new employeesTrain all new employees Include in monthly meetingsInclude in monthly meetings Follow-up after false alarmsFollow-up after false alarms Be proactive - cover common causes before they occurBe proactive - cover common causes before they occur FARA Tips for Schools

Identify the Cause 24 Make sure your alarm system identifies the device that caused the alarm activation FARA Tips for Schools

Notify your alarm company … 25 If your system is not working properly If you plan to remodel or install new wiring of any kind (telephone, DSL, VoIP, etc.) Before you test your system FARA Tips for Schools

Update Your Alarm Company 26 When you get new employees who will open or close When phone numbers change Before you do remodeling FARA Tips for Schools

Tell Your Alarm Company 27 Do Not dispatch public safety on Power outages Weather related signals Low battery signals Temperature sensors FARA Tips for Schools

Request ECV! 28 Tell your monitoring company to use Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) ECV requires making two calls to a responsible party prior to requesting a dispatch FARA Tips for Schools

Cancel False Alarms 29 Follow your alarm companies instructions to cancel all false alarms FARA Tips for Schools

Ask For Help! 30 Ask Your Alarm Company For Help To train new users Find the cause for each false alarm Plan for a new addition or remodel FARA Tips for Schools

Maintain Your Alarm Keep your alarm system in proper operating condition Upgrade old systems 31 FARA Tips for Schools

Why? 32 Public safety resources are limited and should never be wasted Thousands of hours are spent investigating alarm reports that turn out to be “false alarms” FARA Tips for Schools

Remember 33 FARA Tips for Schools

34 FARA Tips for Schools False Alarm Reduction Association Vanderbilt Circle #4 Rockville MD Brad Shipp, Executive Director