The Importance of an Alarm System in Healthcare: Ensuring Patient and Staff Safety

Healthcare settings such as hospitals and care homes are busy environments that need careful monitoring in order to ensure patient and staff safety. While a Hikvision camera offers 24-hour surveillance and provides clear video footage throughout the day, a reliable alarm system can also add an extra level of security. There are many ways to ultilise alarms to your advantage. While some deter break-ins and prevent criminal activity, others improve patient safety and can draw attention to issues such as patient falls or abnormal audio such as screaming or shouting.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the importance of alarms in the healthcare system.

Alarms Can Deter Criminals and Prevent Break-Ins

Healthcare facilities are designed to aid recovery and should offer a peaceful, tranquil and calm environment. However, we all know that they can be loud, busy and often not regulated to the necessary standards due to staff shortages. With high volumes of people constantly coming and going, the potential for unlawful behaviour – including break-ins – is significant. Thankfully, Hikvision burglar alarm systems can act as a deterrent, making it obvious that the site is being watched throughout the day and night.

Burglar alarms can protect valuable pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and other expensive items that might be a target for professional criminals. They can be installed on-site in pharmacies as well as in pharmaceutical delivery areas that might also be targeted.

Emergency Alarms Give Staff Peace of Mind

Emergency alarm systems are a good idea for health care settings. If a staff member feels threatened by a patient, visitor or intruder, they can activate an SOS alarm. Live video and recordings can then be monitored and the emergency services can be dispatched if necessary. While the emergency button should be used as a last resort, it’s good to have one nearby.

Access Control Prevents Intruders

Hikvision access control can be integrated with various other devices such as face recognition technology, card readers, locks or push buttons to ensure only those permitted can access certain parts of a healthcare facility. Access control systems can be linked with CCTV cameras for crystal-clear video footage. They can also be linked with an alarm system which is useful for catching trespassers. Access control is also good for attendance reporting and will help you to know exactly who is on-site at any given time.

Alarms for Improved Patient Care

As well as preventing break-ins and monitoring site access, alarms can also be used to improve patient care. From fall detectors which trigger an alarm when someone does not get up within a specified period of time to alarms that sound when a person gets out of bed in the night, there are many alarm systems that act as another pair of eyes. Alarms can also sound when a patient leaves their room and does not return. This can be useful for those working with dementia patients who often get confused as to where they’re supposed to be.

Protect your healthcare facility with the right alarm system – contact MYDIS today to find out more.

How an Alarm System Can Improve Emergency Response and Care for Patients

Caring for sick, vulnerable and weak patients is a huge responsibility and one that should be taken seriously. Healthcare professionals are often run off their feet trying to look after patients with a multitude of different conditions and ailments, but there are ways to streamline care and improve emergency response times. Having the right alarm systems in place, for instance, makes it easier to stay in-the-know at all times.

 

What are The Different Types of Emergency Alarms?

When you think of security for healthcare settings, a Hikvision CCTV system might come to mind or a Hikvision intruder alarm system. But did you know that there are alarms that specifically monitor patient activity, so that you can respond to certain situations quicker? Here’s a rundown of some of the most advanced healthcare alarm systems:

 

Wireless Emergency Button

A wireless emergency button can be placed in a patient’s room or on their arm and activated in an emergency situation. A call acts as an alarm for healthcare providers who need to take immediate action to ensure the safety of a patient. A Hikvision CCTV camera can also be used to monitor communal areas to ensure everyone is safe and well.

 

Fall Detector

When people fall down and can’t get up within a set period of time, an alarm will sound to alert people of the problem. This is great for residential homes for the elderly, care homes and hospices who deal with falls regularly.

 

Out of Bed Alarms

Alarms can also be activated if a patient leaves their bed in the middle of the night. Patients with certain conditions such as insomnia or dementia are more likely to wander around after dark and become disoriented and confused.

 

Out of Room Alarm

It can be dangerous for some patients to leave their room unsupervised. Healthcare staff must know where those they care for are at all times, which is why out of room alarms are ideal.

 

Audio Alarms

Care staff can be notified when abnormal audio such as screaming or shouting is detected. This could indicate that a patient has become unsettled or upset in some way and needs reassurance. Again, this can happen to dementia patients or those with Alzheimers as well as people with mental health disorders.

 

Break-In Alarms

Break-ins can jeopardise the safety of both staff and patients. Alarms are therefore used to deter criminal activity. There are also alarms that can detect unauthorised stays, such as visitors wanting to stay overnight. While this might not seem like a big deal, facility numbers must be monitored carefully for safeguarding reasons.

 

Alarms can greatly improve emergency response times and overall patient care, so it’s well worth investing in the right systems for your facility.

What are the Four Categories of Alarm Systems

If you’re looking to tighten the security of your premises, you might already be checking out the best business alarm systems on the market. There are many different products to choose from including thermal and perimeter cameras as well as CCTV monitoring services, but when it comes to alarm systems, there are four categories to be aware of. Here at MYDIS, we provide a range of options, enabling you to select the one that best fits your needs. Here are the key systems you can choose from:

 

Intruder Alarm Systems

Business security systems include intruder alarms. These are designed to detect intruders in real-time and will send alerts to mobile devices for faster responses. Intruder alarms are specially designed to pick up genuine threats and can be programmed to look out for specific intruder types such as people, vehicles or both. Line-crossing technology is used to send alerts whenever someone suspicious crosses a specific perimeter, and reduces the chance of a false alarm being raised.

 

External Alarm Systems

An intruder alarm can be used to monitor a site’s perimeter and is a type of external alarm when used in this capacity. External alarms can detect a threat before someone even enters the core of your business site and are usually monitored internally. AI technologies are used to actively detect specific threats and trigger the correct alerts. External alarms are particularly useful for large sites including farms and industrial plants that can be tricky to monitor at all times.

 

Internal Alarm Systems

Small business alarm systems can include an internal alarm. This is designed to detect intrusion such as unauthorised entry into a business building or part of a premises. Alarms can be triggered by motion and are often activated when a door opens and the alarm is set. Internal alarm systems can be used alongside external alarm systems to ensure your business site remains as secure as possible.

 

Access Control

Unlike traditional locks and keys, access control systems can be integrated with CCTV, fire alarms and internal alarm systems for an impressive security solution. If you have a single point of entry, for example, alarms can be set to activate if people try to get onto your business site in a different way. Those using the entry point can be issued with fobs or can pass through a key/card reader. Biometric technology such as fingerprint or facial recognition access can also be used for a higher level of security.

Finding the right alarm system for your business is a must, so carry out a risk assessment of your premises and decide which security measures you need. Alternatively, get in touch with the team at MYDIS to discuss your premises and benefit from a full consultation.

Top 10 tips to keep your business safe from intruders

Keeping your business safe from intruders should be a top priority. Replacing stolen stock and repairing the damage from a break-in can grind your company to a financial halt, so it’s important to take as many precautions as possible to prevent intruders from striking. An investment in security now could save you money and stress down the line, so here are 10 tips to keep your business safe.

  1. Install business alarm systems 

Business alarm systems are more sophisticated than ever these days and are designed to offer peace of mind. Advanced systems can detect intrusions in real-time and will send alerts directly to your phone for a faster response. Technology differentiates between people and vehicles meaning only genuine threats are detected.

  1. Install business camera system

Often, commercial CCTV systems act as a deterrent, scaring away criminals before they decide to act. High-quality camera systems also record crystal clear images across a range of lighting conditions meaning if an intrusion does occur, the footage may be good enough to use as evidence if the case goes to court.

  1. Adequate locks on doors and windows

It sounds simple, but make sure you have adequate locks on all doors and windows. You could even think about double or triple locking key entry points for extra security. Furthermore, it’s advisable to assign lock-up duties to one or two people to ensure the process is completed thoroughly every day.

  1. Control property access

Be sure to control access to your business premises with fobs or swipe cards so you can restrict movement and have a record of who is onsite at any given time. If possible, never let random people just walk into your property without someone giving them permission.

 

  1. Triple glaze your windows 

Another easy way to protect against intruders is to triple glaze your windows. Double or triple glazed windows are really hard to smash because of the toughened glass making it more difficult for people to get in.

 

  1. Install external lighting 

Many lighting systems work using a sensor and will activate if someone comes near to your business. As with a CCTV camera, this can act as a deterrent, scaring criminals away. A well-lit business premises is undoubtedly harder to target.

 

  1. Lock away expensive items 

Opportunist thefts will see an item they want and take steps to steal it. To prevent this, keep all expensive equipment away from doors and windows where a smash and grab theft might be possible. You could even secure equipment to walls and floors. The same applies for machinery and outdoor equipment. Lock it up out of sight.

 

  1. Visit your premises regularly 

Visit your business every single day if possible or make sure there’s someone onsite when you’re not. To stop criminals from working out your daily routine, show up at different times so that your visiting hours are unpredictable.

 

  1. Take care on social media 

Posting that your business is closed implies no-one will be there. This can result in break-ins and thefts, so think carefully about what you put on social media.

  1. Have a skeleton staff during holidays 

Intrusions happen frequently during holiday periods when offices and businesses are closed. To reduce the risk, employ a skeleton staff to keep the company going during important celebrations or pop in yourself to make sure everything is secure.