Cell and Smart Phones Are Not Suited for Critical Alert Messaging during Natural Disasters
Hurricane Sandy dramatically illustrates one of the major drawbacks to using cell or smart phones for critical alert messaging. An Associated Press story printed the morning after the hurricane struck, reported that from 25 to 35 percent of all the cell towers in the ten states most severely impacted by the storm were either significantly damaged or destroyed. What communication medium did the healthcare professionals and first responders in those affected areas use for their critical alert messaging during this crucial time period? It certainly was not cell or smart phones!
While cell phones and smart phones have many exciting capabilities, they are simply not suitable for code alerts or other time-critical messages during a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy. In contrast, a response paging system delivers each message within 5 seconds, then tracks who received the message, who read it, and when they will arrive. A response paging system improves safety, eliminates surprises, and improves overall efficiency.
Only a dedicated response paging system can truly meet the critical alerting requirements of hospitals and first responders. A response paging system reigns supreme in terms of both safety and operational efficiency, excelling in performance, reliability, cost, productivity, and accountability over any other available solution. For critical messaging during a natural disaster, there is no better communication solution than a response paging system.