Evacuation Monitor FAQs
Do I Need a Photo ID System?
Technically, no. Photo identification technology is not required to make the system run. However, there are several components to it that make the system much stronger and faster.
Firstly, a barcoded identification card can scan instantaneously as opposed to having staff do a manual name search on the student. Moreover, siblings or students with similar last names might be erroneously entered in an emergency situation, resulting in incorrect accounting.
Finally, in the event that a student cannot be located, the photograph will greatly assist your efforts in locating them.
How Many Handheld Devices Will I Need?
The answer to this depends on two things: the size of your student body and the use of Photo ID cards.
As mentioned above, the scanning process will always be quicker than looking up students by name. While not an exact statistic, consider the following numbers:
| Method of Accounting | Accounted in 1 minute | Student Body Size | Time Required to Account for Student Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scanning | 50 | 1000 | 20 minutes |
| Name Search | 5 | 1000 | 3.5 hours |
Regardless of the mechanism chosen, it is suggested that a minimum of two handheld devices be employed for a school with more than 500 students. Note that a regular barcode scanner can also be attached to the laptop, allowing for additional scanning.
How Will My Student Information Get Into This System?
There are several mechanisms for ensuring that the student database in the EM is current:
Import Manager: The ImportManager is a utility offered that will take exports from your existing database and transfer the data on a scheduled basis. Source databases can include Winschool, SASI, Starbase, your Photo ID database. See the ImportManager document for more details.
Direct Link: Users of CIM's Attendance or Lunch POS application will already have this information automatically synchronized. Moreover, many Photo ID systems can configure their application to tie directly to the EM database.
Manual Entry: The least attractive option will always be manual entry. While typically more cost effective, you run the risk of non-current information.