Emergency Alerts That Don’t Suck: Stop Missing the Message Already Geeze!

As a mother of two boys and the leader of masses of people, I find myself talking very loudly a lot of the time. I’m constantly yelling:

"I'M NOT YELLING, I'M JUST TALKING REALLY LOUD!"

I’ve pretty much mastered the art of over-the-top theatrics just to get the split-second attention of the humans I’m either trying to feed or trying to pay. And honestly? I don’t see this as a problem.

Here’s why:

?? When they’re loud, I know they’re still alive.

?? When they’re loud, they’re usually super active—which means they’re getting some form of exercise.

?? When they’re loud, I remind myself that someday they won’t be around to be loud… and that will make me sad.

However… there are times when you need to grab attention fast, and loud isn’t the best option.

(Very reminiscent of my dad, who used to give my brother and me a quick thump on the head when we weren’t paying attention. I’m 42, and he still does this. His philosophy? “Sometimes, ya just gotta get their attentiozn.”)

At home with your kiddos, this is all rainbows and sunshine—but how do you get the attention of the masses in an airport? Or on the entire floor of a very loud, high-functioning warehouse or manufacturing facility? And, more critically, how do we snap a loud gym or classroom of kids to attention when it actually matters?

Hospitals get loud. Professional sports arenas (even the non-professional ones) get really loud. Ever been to a Kansas City Chiefs game when they go over the emergency protocol before kickoff? Getting the attention of 80,000 extremely passionate—and let’s be honest, mostly very well-buzzed—fans is not exactly easy if something actually goes down.

Some people will see an alert. Some people will hear it. But some can’t see, and some can’t hear.

So… what do we do?

WHAT THE TECH IS HAPPENING?!

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a single-mode alert system is as useless as a silent car alarm.

Relying only on sound? Congrats, your alert is now background noise in a factory full of machines louder than a Metallica concert. Only using visual alerts? Cool, too bad no one in your office has looked up from their screens in 47 minutes.

If an emergency alert isn’t heard OR seen, did it even happen?

That’s why visual and audible alerting is the undefeated tag team of emergency communication.

?? Audible Alerts: Loudspeakers, paging systems, and those ear-splitting alarms that make everyone snap to attention. ?? Visual Alerts: Flashing strobes, scrolling text, and digital signage that scream “HEY! YO!”

?? Combine them? Now you’ve got an alert that actually gets noticed.

Who Actually Needs This? (Guys...everybody not just these people)

?? Schools & Campuses – Fire drills, lockdowns, and weather alerts. If kids can hear in detail a private adult conversation from 3 floors away, they sure as heck better hear an emergency alert.

?? Hospitals & Healthcare – A silent Code Blue? Not ok.

?? Factories & Warehouses – Have you ever tried yelling over heavy machinery? If you have, that's adorable. Paging + flashing alerts = the only chance you’ve got.

?? Offices & Retail – If your emergency plan involves an email, congrats—you’ve officially sent a message no one will read until 3 hours later.

Why Today’s Alerting Systems will Thump You on The Head Harder (meaning they're so much better)

The old “hit the alarm and hope for the best” strategy is cute… but we have the tech to do better now.

? Instant, multi-channel communication – Sound + visuals = no excuses.

? No more “Oops, I didn’t see it” moments – Because, um...yeah ya did.

? Fully integrated with VoIP, PA systems, mobile notifications & digital signage – Basically,

a “you physically cannot ignore this” solution.

WHAT THE TECH SHOULD YOU DO?

If your emergency alert system is still relying on just one method to get people’s attention… congratulations, you’re playing a game of "Let’s Hope Nothing Bad Ever Happens."

?? Hope is not a strategy. ??

When things go sideways, no one is waiting around to refresh their email or check a tiny blinking light in the corner of the room. You need alerts that demand attention—not ones that politely suggest people notice them.

Because let’s be clear:

• Emergencies don’t schedule themselves for your convenience.
• You don’t get a do-over when the message doesn’t get through.
• And “Oops, I didn’t see it” is a terrible thing to say in a crisis.

So what’s the move?

?? Tag your I.T. Team if your workplace’s alert system is about as effective as yelling into a void.

?? Drop a comment if you’ve ever completely missed an emergency alert—because let’s be honest, it happens way more than it should.

?? Subscribe to this newsletter if you want more brutally honest, actually useful takes on tech (and also because, let’s face it, you know you’ll enjoy it).

At the end of the day, being ignored isn’t just frustrating—it’s dangerous.

?? So get loud. Get seen. And for the love of all things functional, get an alert system that actually works. ??

And if you’re enjoying this little mix of fun, chaos, and “actually useful” advice, then you’ll love my newsletter, What the Tech Is Happening. It’s the perfect blend of snark, smarts, and stuff you didn’t know you needed to know. Subscribe now—you’ll thank me later.

#EmergencyAlerts #VisualAndAudibleAlerting #BusinessSafety #PagingSystems #TechThatWorks #TownerCommunications #SmartBusiness #WhatTheTech Algo Communication Products Ltd Keith Towner Lucas Salinas Amanda Herdman Amanda Chard Trevor Lanier Jacob Salinas Jackson Holden William Shannon Shauna Lea