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Discrete Activation
Those in need of law enforcement assistance can activate a panic button without fear of alarming or
alerting others in the vicinity of the activation by using two discrete activation options and multiple
ways to signal for help.
NOTE: THE COMPUTER PANIC BUTTONS ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE OR SUBSTITUTE DIALING 911
FOR EMERGENCIES
Simple activation includes:
Alt+Backspace keystroke on the keyboard
or
Double Click the 911 icon in the system tray (shown below):
Q&A SECTION
What happens when a panic button is activated via one of the two methods noted?
- After activation of the panic button, a small window will pop up on the computer screen indicating/confirming activation. This window will display a countdown from four (4) seconds before automatically disappearing and also activating the panic button. During this same time, you have the option to hit "send now" or "cancel." If either of the two are pressed, the window will close, and the selected option will be carried out immediately.
Will I ever need to test the functionality of the button?
- Do not test or activate a panic button unless you need a law enforcement response. They are tested automatically and by IT. Activating a panic button is the same as calling 911. Should you need it, you can discreetly activate a panic button to get police officers to your location.
If there is a medical emergency in my classroom/office, should I activate the panic button?
- No, employees should dial 911 for all emergencies, especially medical emergencies, so that there is no delay in the dispatch of the appropriate emergency services needed for that situation.
What if I accidentally activate a panic button?
- If a panic button is accidentally activated, you will have four (4) seconds to cancel the activation via the pop-up window. If this opportunity is missed, police officers will continue to respond to ensure they are not needed. They will make contact with the person who activated the panic button and obtain the minimum details needed before going back into service. If you call UPD and make an attempt to cancel the accidental activation, your request will be noted. However, officers will still respond as required to ensure campus safety and that the person(s) who activated the panic button were not forced to cancel it via telephone.
What if I attempted to activate a panic button, but nothing happened, and no one responded?
- Please report any suspected issues or failures to UPD immediately. While we strive to ensure that all possible issues are prevented, these do on occasion happen and might be outside of our control.
Can I request a panic button for an area I work in?
- You can request UPD look into an area to make a determination on whether a panic button would be a plausible and/or ideal solution. This determination is based on several factors that must be taken into account before a decision is made. This request can be made by sending an email to policechief@vinu.edu. If you make this request, please be detailed and descriptive as to why you feel this area needs to be added and use any past issues or examples.