Covid Safe Schools With Two Way Radios

by w2wcomms | Aug 25, 2020 | two way radio

As September approaches many schools will be returning to the new version of normality to commence the 2020/2021 school year. However, with the recent pandemic in mind, schools will not simply be able to operate as they did before. There will be multiple changes to the day to day running of schools to ensure staff and pupils remain Covid safe in an active school environment. 

Two way radios and social distancing in schools

To prevent the further spread of the virus, one of the vital measures that should be put in place is social distancing. This is where two way radios come in. The use of two way radios is supported by the Government as a viable solution to social distancing. For example, if each teacher were equipped with a two way radio, they will be able to seamlessly communicate without having to move through communal areas or visit other classrooms. This will allow teachers and pupils to stay within their ‘bubble’, thus minimising the opportunity for the virus to spread to other pupils, teachers and staff.

Find out how two way radios can be used to aid with social distancing within families, the community and business in our blog ‘Radios For Social Distancing’ here. 

Advantages of using two way radios:

• Minimise face-to-face communication
• Communicate in densely populated areas without the unreliability of mobile signals
• Emergency communication 
• On-site security and management of students, visitors, staff, assets and buildings
• Health and safety of staff, students and visitors
• Coordination of activities and management of events and excursions
• Incident reporting

Covid Safe Radios

As with all areas and surfaces that are frequently touched, two way radios should be regularly disinfected and cleaned to minimise the risk for cross contamination and the spread of the virus. 

1. If it is possible, assign a personal radio to each individual that won’t be used by anyone else to minimise the risk of cross contamination.
2. Where possible, use single charging stations to keep personal radios separate. Alternatively, if you are using a multi-charging port, assign each radio to an individual port. 
3. A vital step in minimising the spread of Coronavirus in schools is to always disinfect radios and their charging stations regularly! To do this:

• • Turn off the radio, remove from the charging station and unplug the charger
  • Remove the battery
  • Using at least 70% concentration of rubbing alcohol, wipe down the radios, screen, case, buttons, control knobs, antenna and charging station
  • Once the alcohol has air dried, replace the battery and wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds 

For more detailed information on how to keep your two way radios Covid safe, read our blog ‘How to Effectively Clean and Disinfect Your Radio’ here.

Two way radios for sale and for hire

With health and safety at schools a top priority, here at Wall to Wall Communications we have a wide range of two way radios for sale and hire to suit all needs and price points. From Digital Radios, to Analogue and POC radios all needs and specifications can be met. For more information on the benefits of each radio you can read our blog post ‘Which Radio is Best For You?’. Alternatively you can contact our team of experts using the form below to discuss your needs and budget. 

Wall to wall offer

To help your schools stay Covid safe, here at Wall to Wall Communications we are offering a service that will keep your radios functioning at maximum efficiency, so you can focus on the important task at hand. With the start of the school year approaching, our team of experts will collect and carry out inspections of your school’s radios free of charge. With over 40 years of experience, our team will ensure your radios are in working order and offer a free report on functionality with recommended repairs and updates.

How You Can Benefit From Two Way Radios

by w2wcomms | Jun 23, 2020 | two way radio

Two way radios have been in circulation and benefiting organisations for over 100 years. To this day, two way radios are still benefiting organisations from all industries from both the public and private sector in a number of ways. With their robust design, easy to use functions and useful features, there are many advantages to using two way radios. We’ve listed some of the benefits below:

• Instantaneous communication

Two way radios allow you to communicate with other members of your team instantaneously and without delay. These fast working devices allow you to similarly make fast and effective decisions, particularly useful when communicating during an emergency situation. Each radio design is unique, but commonly there is a large PTT (push to talk) button on one side. This allows the radio users to communicate at a single touch. If your staff are required to wear PPE kit, small and fiddly buttons can be tricky to navigate. With two way radios, regardless of the equipment being worn, communication is fast and easy.

• Robust two way radios

Two way radios are built with a robust casing to keep up with you and your team. Two way radios are rigorously tested to ensure that they can withstand water, dust, heat, drops and shock. This allows your team to function in even the toughest environments, knowing their communication technology will still keep them connected.

For particularly hazardous environments, there are also ATEX radios which stand for ATmosphere EXplosibles. These radios are specifically designed to be used in environments where explosive and flammable substances are present. These radios are particularly robust to ensure no spark is produced and the highest safety standards are met. You can read our blog ‘What Are ATEX Radios and do I Need Them’ here to find out more. 

• Protection and security

Two way radios can significantly increase the safety of both your staff and visitors. In addition to opening a line of reliable communication, two way radios can also come with additional safety features which include the Lone Worker function and Man Down function. The Lone Worker function sends out automated alarms at regular intervals, and if a worker does not respond within a certain time frame an alarm is activated to signal for assistance. The Man Down function on two way radios, on the other hand, monitors for irregular movements such as vigorous movement or no movement at all. 

To learn more about how the Lone Work and Man Down functions can benefit your organisation you can read our blog post ‘Lone Worker and Man Down Function: How Can They Help You’.

• Reliable battery

Two way radios have reliable intelligent battery technology that ensures your radios will last your full shift. Without having to recharge your radio batteries throughout the day, your communication between team members will be constant and uninterrupted.

• Resilient signal

Where mobile signal fails, radio signal prevails. In built up areas or at busy events such as festivals and concerts, the mobile network can become overwhelmed and signal lost. This presents problems if you are working in such conditions and you need to communicate. However, two way radio signals will remain operational during these busy events, in emergencies and at major incidents.

• Secure communication

Two way radio communications can be encrypted end to end, providing your team with a secure line of communication. The quality of voice and data transmissions will remain high, with clear audio messages whilst still protecting the content of your messages.

• Collaborative environment

Members of your team can remain connected even when they are separated by rooms, floors or even site locations (learn about Multi-site Connectivity here). Two way radios can even be connected to tablets, mobile phones, PC’s and alarm systems for complete visibility. This open communication builds the perfect foundation for collaboration and teamwork.

If you feel that your organisation can benefit from the advantages of two way radios, please do get in contact via our email address info@walltowallcomm.co.uk, phone number 0208 770 1007 or by filling out the form below.