Lockdown apparatus for initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility during an emergency

A lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility that is configured for occupation by facility occupants and that includes a fire alarm, the fire alarm including a fire alarm actuator and a fire alarm communicator configured to produce a fire alarm communication for communicating actuation of the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown apparatus comprising:

• a manually operated lockdown actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated, the manually operated actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator, the actuator including a mounting base configured for mounting to a static surface of the facility, and a depressible button disposed at the mounting base, the mounting base and button each defining a front exterior surface that is circular, the diameter of the circle of the button being smaller than the diameter of the circle of the mounting base;
• and
• a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the lockdown communicator including an annunciator that communicates an audible annunciation to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the audible annunciation being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication and including an alarm cycle, each alarm cycle including an initial distinctive sound, followed by the word “lockdown,” the lockdown communicator also including a visual indicator that communicates a visual indication to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the visual indication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication.