Respond to Alerts π‘οΈ
Complete guide for security guards on how to acknowledge, manage, and close out emergency alerts.
Receiving an Alertβ
You're Notified Immediatelyβ
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Push notification arrives on your security device
- Alert from resident with motives and description
- Alert ID and unit number included
- Notification shows resident's name
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Tap the notification to open the alert detail screen
- Or navigate to Alerts β find the alert in the list
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Alert status is "Active" with red header
- Red indicates urgent/unresolved
- Motives and description are displayed
- No events logged yet
Step 1: Acknowledge the Alertβ
Why Acknowledge?β
Acknowledging tells the resident that:
- β You've received their alert
- β You are responding to the incident
- β They are not alone β help is coming
How to Acknowledgeβ
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Scroll down on the alert detail screen
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Look for the Acknowledge button (usually a slide-up panel for security only)
- Button says "Acknowledge" or "Confirm Receipt"
- This button only appears for security guards on Active alerts
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Tap "Acknowledge"
- A confirmation dialog appears: "Acknowledge this alert and begin response?"
- Tap Confirm
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Status changes to "Acknowledged"
- Alert header color may change (still red, but marked as handled)
- Events section becomes available
- Timeline appears below
Timing: Acknowledge as quickly as possible. Fast response times reduce resident panic and show the system is working.
Step 2: Log Incident Eventsβ
Why Log Events?β
Events create a permanent timeline record of everything that happens during the incident:
- Proves you were there and responded
- Helps with police reports if needed
- Shows exactly when each action occurred
- Provides legal documentation
Available Events to Logβ
When the alert is Acknowledged, you can add events. Tap the plus (+) button in the Events section:
| Event | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Resident Contacted | You called/messaged the resident |
| Security Arrived at Unit | You physically arrived at the scene |
| Police Contacted | You called police or emergency services |
| Situation Under Control | The incident has been stabilized/resolved |
How to Add an Eventβ
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Tap the + button next to "Events" (only visible when Acknowledged)
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AddEventModal pops up with quick-action buttons
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Select the event you want to log:
- Tap "Resident Contacted"
- Tap "Security Arrived at Unit"
- Tap "Police Contacted"
- Tap "Situation Under Control"
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Event is logged immediately
- Timestamp is recorded automatically
- Event appears in the timeline
- Can add multiple events
Example Timeline:
14:30 - Alert Created (resident)
14:31 - Security Acknowledged Alert
14:32 - Resident Contacted (you called resident)
14:35 - Security Arrived at Unit (you're there)
14:38 - Police Contacted (called 911)
14:50 - Situation Under Control (incident stabilized)
View Full Timelineβ
- Tap "View All" or "See Timeline" in the events section
- Full chronological view opens showing all events with exact timestamps
- Review to ensure accuracy before submitting report
Emergency Actions During Incidentβ
Call the Residentβ
While responding, you can call the resident directly:
- Look for the phone icon next to the resident's name
- Tap it β calls the resident's phone number
- Coordinate arrival, get more details, provide reassurance
Call 911β
At any point during an Active or Acknowledged alert:
- Tap the "Call 911" button in the alert header
- Launches phone dialer with 911 pre-filled
- Confirm to dial
Important: You can call 911 anytime. Don't wait if the situation is life-threatening.
Step 3: Submit Security Reportβ
When to Submitβ
Submit a report when:
- β You've assessed the situation fully
- β The incident is stabilized or resolved
- β You've logged all relevant events
- β You're ready to close the incident (from security's side)
How to Submitβ
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Look for "Submit Report" button (visible when status is Acknowledged)
- Large red/highlighted button
- Only appears for security guards
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Tap "Submit Report"
- 3-step wizard modal opens (AlertSubmitReportModal)
Report Submission Wizardβ
Step 1: Select Resolution Statusβ
Choose one:
- Resolved (green indicator) β Incident was real and has been handled
- False Alarm (orange indicator) β Alert was a false alarm or misunderstanding
This status is critical:
- Shows the resident the outcome
- Becomes part of the permanent record
- Affects how incidents are categorized
- Resolved: You found the suspicious person and they've left
- False Alarm: Resident misunderstood a maintenance worker as an intruder
Tap "Continue" β move to Step 2
Step 2: Review Eventsβ
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Event timeline is displayed (read-only view)
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Verify the events are accurate:
- Are all actions you took listed?
- Are timestamps correct?
- Is anything missing?
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If events are wrong:
- Tap "Back" to add/fix events before resubmitting
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If events are correct:
- Tap "Continue" β move to Step 3
Step 3: Final Review & Submitβ
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Summary screen displays:
- Resolution status card (green for Resolved, orange for False Alarm)
- Alert summary: date, time, unit, resident name, motives
- Complete event timeline
- Description (if resident provided one)
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Review everything one final time:
- Is the resolution status correct?
- Do the events reflect what happened?
- Is this ready to send to the resident?
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Tap "Submit Report"
- Confirmation dialog: "Submit this security report?"
- Tap Confirm
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Report is submitted
- Status changes to "Report Submitted" (yellow header)
- Resident is notified via push notification
- Resident must now verify/review your report
Important: Once submitted, the report cannot be edited. Double-check everything before submitting.
After Submitting Reportβ
Alert Status Changesβ
- Status: Report Submitted (yellow header)
- Resident action required: They must verify the report
- Your role: Wait for resident verification
- Timeline shows: "Security Report Submitted" event added automatically
Resident Will Verifyβ
- Resident receives push notification
- Opens the alert
- Reviews your entire report
- Verifies (confirms they accept your report)
- Alert becomes Resolved (green header)
Best Practicesβ
β Do:
- Acknowledge quickly β shows you're responding
- Log events in real-time as they happen
- Be thorough in your response
- Document everything accurately
- Communicate with the resident when possible
- Be honest about false alarms (they happen)
- Call 911 if there's any danger to life
β Don't:
- Delay acknowledging alerts
- Skip logging events
- Forget to document your actions
- Make up events that didn't happen
- Be dismissive of resident concerns
- Ignore safety β prioritize life safety over documentation
Troubleshootingβ
"I can't see the Acknowledge button"β
- The alert might already be acknowledged by someone else
- Refresh the screen (pull to refresh)
- Check the alert status at the top
"I tried to add an event but it didn't appear"β
- Check your internet connection
- Refresh the timeline
- Try adding the event again
- Contact support if it persists
"I submitted the report but the resident hasn't verified"β
- Residents have time to review before verifying
- They might not see the notification
- Check your report is actually submitted (status shows "Report Submitted")
"I made a mistake in my report"β
- Once submitted, you cannot edit it
- If it's critical, contact your supervisor or support
- Be more careful next time
Next Stepsβ
- Understanding Alerts β Full alert workflow
- Verify Security Reports β See how residents verify your work