Understanding Cellular (LTE) Panic Button Alerts

In this article, we will analyze and begin to understand the process of triggering an alert on a cellular (LTE) panic button. 

An alert is an event that starts the process of getting help to your location. When you use the button to request help, a series of actions take place and the button LED changes to help you understand what is happening at that moment. With frequent testing, your property should be able to get a knock at the door to the room you are in within 1 minute!

Requesting Assistance (Light Flashes White)

To trigger an alert with a React Mobile panic button you can either; 1) press and hold the button for 3 seconds, or 2) you can press the button 3 times in rapid succession. If the button requires time to connect to a communication network, such as cellular, the LED will blink white. This should not take more than a few seconds.

Request Received (Light Flashes Red)

If you have a tab open for the Customer Portal, or are near a Responder device, you will hear and see the notification shortly after you press the button. Actual speed of the notification is determined by the reliability of your internet connection. The LED will flash red indicating that the alert is active. Beacon location information will populate within 10 - 20 seconds in the Portal after the initiation of an alert. If you respond using the mobile application, your device will begin to track your position using nearby Bluetooth Low Energy beacons. Tracking will continue until the panic button receives notification that the alert has been resolved.

Help Is On the Way (Light Flashes Red and Blue)

When a Responder elects to help and respond to an alert, the LED will change from flashing red to alternating between flashing red and blue. With daily testing, your team will become familiar with the length of time it takes someone to move across the property and arrive at various locations. Practice and aim for 1 minute or less!

Help Has Arrived (Light Flashes Red and Blue)

The system will automatically acknowledge a Responder has arrived once the Responder is within range of the same beacon as the panic button, given the Responder has the application downloaded. It is at this point where the Portal will measure and record the response time. Underneath the Portal dashboard, there is a response time indicator that can be used to build standard operating procedures. Knowing the average response time means once the screen indicates help is on the way, you will know about how long you will need to wait before the Responder arrives to the alert location.

Alert Is Resolved (Light Flashes Green)

After help has arrived and the situation is resolved, the Responder and/or Dispatcher can use either the Portal or the application to notate details about the alert, and to close the alert. The history of the alert begins from the initial button press, and includes; any location updates for both the button and the responder, all messages sent through the alert chat panel, resolution notes, and the final categorization of the alert.  This information is all stored with our service for later analysis. The button LED will flash green before returning to its idle state.

Practice makes perfect! We recommend practicing once a day if possible, and at least one time a week.