One may think that communication has become quite instantaneous in our time and that certain “old-fashioned” equipment, such as the megaphone, would already be obsolete. Sure we do have text messages and our cell phones are close at hand, not to mention that we now spend a fair amount of our quality time online. However, in a critical high octane fire emergency situation, nothing beats a fire marshal yelling instructions after the subsequent fire alarm. The noise is deafening, but it works to save lives. There’s no question about it: In a world in the midst of instant communications, this device has stood the test of time and is still good at improving its quality time and time again. And there are quite a number of reasons why this is so.

First, because it is a device that can be used literally anywhere and everywhere. It can be used both outdoors and indoors with the same efficiency for a good number of newly manufactured models. It can be used by a second grade teacher to line up their class in the school gym or on the soccer field anyway. As this example illustrates, it not only becomes useful in emergency situations, but in many other cases as well. If I were a large group tour operator, I would not dream of doing my tours without one. I can use it to easily direct and call missing or missing people, particularly children in the given area at any given time. It is also very useful in outdoor recreational activities such as most outdoor sports, rowing boat races, group dynamics, and the like.

Second, because a megaphone has multiple functions other than amplifying the voice. If in the event that a fire alarm system does not sound in the event of a fire, the siren is loud enough to fill the hallways of any area, alerting residents to its noise. Close enough, this can activate the Dorgard system of a fire door installed in it, preventing the spread of flames. It has a whistle function that also chirps for the same purpose making people respond quickly. These additional functions give the responsible person or fire marshal a nifty safety tool such as a “manual alarm and public address system”. Obviously, simply texting a person trapped in a burning building to “jump” into a firefighter’s safety net is not enough.

Surely we all have (and love) our portable communication devices for the instant exchange of information from day to day. However, our local fire marshal especially cautions us that good old things work in emergency situations, and this is perhaps the perfect example. When the fire alarm goes off and everyone is furious, you couldn’t be more grateful to have a megaphone ready for action at any time. It is a versatile and essential emergency device and “the old reliable one” that has a relatively low cost but can save us what is priceless for us.