5 Reasons Your Business Needs a Panic Button

Security systems are important in protecting your business. As a business owner, panic, hold-up and duress systems, especially, are a discreet and reliable way to keep your property safe from intruders or unauthorized persons.

Panic buttons, in general, enable users under duress or in the event of an emergency to immediately and silently call for help. Also called hold-up alarms or duress alarms, these buttons can be activated in one or two simultaneous pushes.

These buttons vary greatly. They're flexible enough that you can easily apply them to your business environment. In addition to single- and two-push panic buttons, there are those activated by a foot or knee and those that are discreetly activated when an item, such as cash or valuable goods, is removed at the request of an intruder.

More importantly, you don't have to worry about training employees. Most panic buttons are designed to be technologically sophisticated yet very simple to use. They're also designed to avoid accidental activation.

Here are five reasons why you need to have a panic button or duress alarm installed.

Check-out counters, security stations, receiving areas, receptionist's desks and even rooms where cash and other valuable property are stored—these are some of the places where workplace violence can strike. So virtually any employee, not just cashiers and receptionists, can fall victim to robbers and intruders. A panic can offer these employees a better sense of security. And it can, most importantly, allow them to call for help quickly and conveniently without drawing attention and putting themselves in danger.

Don't wait for an incident to happen. By installing a panic button you are also proactively protecting your business from loss of property, profits and productivity. Panic buttons make it easier to contact the authorities when a traditional 911 phone call might not be feasible or convenient.

Many panic buttons can activate your existing surveillance systems to monitor the premise and record a video of the unfolding events. The process is very discreet that thieves or intruders won't realize they're being monitored. Once authorities respond to the alarm and get hold of the recorded video, there's a higher chance of apprehending offenders.

Installing panic buttons, security systems and other preventive measures not only protects your employees from life-threatening incidents. It also gives authorities a better chance at preventing offenders from succeeding or committing any more crime.

Are security camera systems enough? In most cases, they're not. A dedicated panic button on your system adds a valuable layer of security. It actually helps your emergency responsive team perform a better task of capturing criminals and helping in the prosecution of offenders. It does what CCTV cameras alone can't do—quickly and silently ask for help and offer employees a better sense of security.