American Time is the recognized leader in synchronized time, digital communications, and safety and security solutions. It’s EverAlert® communication system instantly transitions from daily tasks (digital messaging, bell scheduling, paging, weather conditions) to critical emergency response, delivering immediate alerts across your campus through integrated equipment.
In this interview, Campus Safety caught up with American Time Vice President of Innovation and Product Management Chuck Olson to discuss EverAlert, as well as the company’s other offerings.
American Time Vice President of Innovation and Product Management Chuck Olson. Photo courtesy American Time
Campus Safety: What is/are the top emergency notification and/or panic alarm/mobile duress system or app from your company, and what makes it special? How does it apply to healthcare facilities, schools and/or higher education security, public safety and/or emergency management?
Chuck Olson: American Time’s EverAlert system is our flagship product. It’s unique as an alarm and alerting system because it also serves several daily-use purposes, such as digital messaging, synchronized time, and live audio paging, which means the system is a familiar point of reference in addition to being cost-effective and versatile.
When students or employees require additional information, the EverAlert system is where they go. Strictly speaking from an alarm system perspective, the EverAlert system integrates easily with other infrastructure to initiate alarms with the simple push of a Lockdown button. Once the Lockdown button is activated, all EverAlert units display the Lockdown alarm and an automated audible and visible alarm can be initiated without any additional human intervention.
CS: What other products or offerings would you like to highlight, and what are some of their qualities and benefits?
Olson: The EverAlert Dynamic View can also be deployed as a programmable tone generator to interface with a facility’s existing PA system to provide automated emergency announcements as well as everyday tasks like school bells or workplace shift and break schedules
The Dynamic View is a smart media player that allows campuses to display EverAlert notifications, messages, and communications on a broad range of large-format TV monitors through HDMI input. Schools, universities and healthcare facilities can more clearly communicate daily messages, synchronized time, and emergency alerts such as severe weather, lockdown protocols, fire drills, and more.
EverAlert Integrator and PoE/Wi-Fi relays give the EverAlert system the ability to connect with other systems and equipment to provide additional forms of alerting – i.e. strobes and/or horns.
CS: How do your company and its offerings address the needs of hospitals, schools and/or universities?
Olson: American Time’s EverAlert is a visual emergency communication and clock system that serves several key functions in healthcare facilities, schools, and other institutions:
For Healthcare Facilities:
- Synchronizes time across all departments to ensure accurate medical record keeping and procedure timing
- Displays emergency codes and alerts that are specific to healthcare settings
- Enables quick mass notification for facility-wide emergencies or situations requiring staff response
- Can integrate with existing nurse call systems and other healthcare communication infrastructure
For Schools and Institutions of Higher Education:
- Provides synchronized timekeeping for class schedules and events
- Enables immediate lockdown notifications and emergency alerts
- Displays customizable emergency instructions and evacuation routes
- Can integrate with existing PA systems and security infrastructure
- Allows for both scheduled and emergency messaging
Public Safety and Emergency Management Features:
- Offers multi-colored visual alerts to indicate different types of emergencies
- Provides real-time weather alerts and updates
- Enables rapid dissemination of emergency instructions across an entire facility
- Allows for zone-specific messaging to target particular areas or buildings
- Can display countdown timers for evacuation procedures
- Available battery backup to continue functioning during power outages
CS: What else is new or noteworthy about your company for 2025?
Olson: In 2025 American Time’s focus is on improving our ability to Activate alarms (Wearables, Lockdown buttons, Mobile Apps) improve Alerting (E911 notification, alarm notification on non-EverAlert systems) and Communication (during everyday use and during an emergency).
CS: What is your company’s overall value proposition to schools, universities and/or hospitals? Why should they do business with you?
Olson: We have been the trusted source of synchronized time for nearly 45 years in the education and health care markets. Now we are a trusted technology leader in multifunctional routine/emergency communications in cloud-based systems for schools, universities and hospitals.
CS: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Olson: inCloud is the cloud-based platform that manages our EverAlert System. From a single management portal, users can manage, see status, control bell schedules, create digital signage, page to individual or a group of displays and initiate emergency communications. This same platform will also manage users PoE and/or Wi-Fi clock system which can be accessed from any web browser, anywhere, at any time. american-time.com
