Experts & Opinions: How Trade Shows Can Leverage Modern Technology to Improve SafetyExperts & Opinions: How Trade Shows Can Leverage Modern Technology to Improve Safety
Drawing from nearly three decades of public safety experience, 911inform's Shannon Torres explains how modern, integrated technology platforms can transform event safety by connecting venue staff, security teams, and first responders through real-time communication and shared situational awareness.
After nearly three decades in public safety, I’ve responded to emergencies in every setting, including schools, campuses, and large-scale public events. We didn’t always have the technology we do today. We often arrived with little to no information and had to make quick decisions based on what we could gather on the ground.
No matter the venue or type of emergency, when communication breaks down, response suffers, and people are put at a greater risk. Large events have distinct safety challenges, from medical emergencies to active shooter threats. These situations unfold quickly, often in loud and high-traffic environments where visibility and coordination are already strained.
While most venues have emergency protocols in place, many still rely on outdated communication tools and disconnected systems during a crisis. Modern technology gives organizers the ability to detect threats earlier, coordinate across teams, and respond with clarity. That kind of coordination needs to happen long before a crisis begins, and that starts with putting systems in place that connect venue staff, security teams, and first responders.
Preparedness Starts Before the Crisis
Large events involve dense crowds, complex floor plans, and multiple teams working behind the scenes. In an emergency, those layers can quickly lead to confusion and delays. If staff are trying to make decisions in the moment without a clear plan or way to communicate, the emergency can spiral fast.
But when responders and event staff are connected through a shared system, they can assess the situation quickly and coordinate in real time. Event venues need systems housed on a single platform that enable early threat detection, real-time communication, and faster response. At events of this scale, organizers have to ensure that everyone is aligned before, during, and after an incident.
Technology Must Be Usable
Even the most advanced technology won’t help in a crisis if staff can’t use it under pressure. In high-stress situations, complex interfaces or confusing instructions slow response efforts, especially for staff without emergency response experience.
Security technology should be intuitive, easy to train on, and built for fast decision-making. But the technology must be supported by the right training. Regular drills and hands-on preparation help ensure staff know what to do when it matters most, leading to better response time and outcomes.
Communication Gaps Slow Emergency Response
Large events rely on many agencies and jurisdictions, such as onsite staff, medical teams, local fire departments, and private security. When those teams aren’t connected, small communication breakdowns can quickly become life-threatening.
In 2021, crowd surging led to 10 deaths and hundreds of injuries at the sold-out Astroworld Festival in Houston. In the aftermath, reports pointed to communication challenges. Some medical personnel were using outdated, two-way radios, while local firefighters weren’t given those radios at all. The situation showed how quickly a lack of shared tools can complicate even the most well-intentioned response.
Modern tools eliminate communication gaps caused by disconnected methods, like relying on phone calls, radio calls, or fragmented alerts. Updated security solutions improve emergency communication by connecting onsite staff and emergency personnel on a centralized platform.
Real-Time Situational Awareness Saves Lives
In an emergency, responders need clarity to assess the situation, identify leadership, and determine where to focus aid. At the 2011 Indiana State Fair, a stage collapse during a severe storm led to multiple fatalities and injuries. Investigations later highlighted breakdowns in communication and uncertainty over decision-making authority.
These issues often arise when roles aren’t clearly defined or when teams lack a shared view of the situation. Real-time situational awareness ensures venue staff, security teams, and first responders can access the same information as events unfold. That shared visibility supports faster decisions, better coordination, and improved outcomes.
Shared Visibility Leads to Stronger Response
In large-scale emergencies, responders need to be working with the same information. When communication is scattered through siloed systems, critical details can get lost or misunderstood.
With a shared platform, event staff, security, and responders have access to the same real-time updates, which leads to faster decisions and better coordination. Whether the threat is medical, environmental, or criminal, effective coordination helps get the right help to the right place.
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