One of the region’s most anticipated health care emergency drills was staged on the old campus of the LAC + USC Medical Center on March 19. Presented by HASC’s Security and Safety Committee and with more than 230 security, clinical, administrative and law enforcement staff attending, the standing-room only event was designed to simulate an active shooter incident and ensure that those in attendance leave with some tools to create a response plan for their organization.

Drills were conducted in an emergency room and office environment to maximize the learning experience. Representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff, Special Enforcement Bureau and Ventura City Police were on hand to respond to the staged incidents that included simulated gunfire.

Attendees were assigned roles that varied from non-participating observers/note takers, to clinical personnel (doctors, nurses) and visiting family members who were instructed to respond to the events in ways that incorporated both their training and instincts. Safety officers and facilitators ensured the drill was conducted safely.

“Facilitating an active shooter drill in both a medical and office setting was very important,” said Daniel J. Holden, Director of Healthcare Services for the Southwest Region of AlliedBarton Security Services, Chair, HASC Security and Safety Committee, and author of the article Are You Prepared for an Active Shooter at Your Hospital?  “Often the office component is overlooked when providing training for hospital staff, yet it is a real risk and the two venues offer completely separate experiences.”

Classroom sessions led by disaster preparedness experts Lisa Angell and Caryn Thornburg, both of the California Hospital Association Hospital Preparedness Program; and PsySTART Rapid Mental Health Triage creator Merritt Schreiber, PhD, provided background information about existing regulations regarding security and safety assessments from the State of California, The Joint Commission and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health; and they underscored survival techniques highlighted in the drill. A panel discussion and debriefing ended the day.

According to federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more assaults occur in the health care and social services sectors than any others, citing that hospitals are difficult places to secure. As of July 2010, the California Department of Public Health requires licensed general acute-care hospitals to conduct annual security and safety assessments and maintain an updated security plan that protects personnel, patients and visitors from aggressive or violent behavior.

Drills and educational programs like the HASC Security and Safety Conference provide insight and valuable guidelines for creating awareness of the importance of being prepared for the unthinkable.

“One of the major lessons was how quickly an active shooter episode unfolds from start to finish,” said Pat Wall, Vice President of Membership and Education Services. “The event is often over before law enforcement arrives and therefore employee awareness and quick decisions are essential.”

Though no two events are alike, some key guidelines emerged from the drill that can help increase your chances for survival:

• Phone for help as soon as it is safe to do so.
• The three most important personal choices made during an active shooter event are to “run, hide, or fight.” (Based on the video, Run, Hide, Fight by the city of Houston)
• Situations and circumstances change rapidly during active shooter events. Have several survival plans ready, not just one.
• Know your exits and hiding spots.
• Cooperate with law enforcement.
• Get psychological help after an active shooter event.

A video of the event and other materials will be included as part of a free educational package for hospital executives and security managers later in the year. A clip from the event can be viewed at Campus Safety Magazine’s website.

The HASC Security and Safety Committee thanks the event sponsors AlliedBarton Security Services, AVADE® Training, Proper Authorities, MAXXESS Systems, and Lynx Systems, and acknowledge the support received from the CHA Hospital Preparedness Program and the Southern California Association for Healthcare Risk Management. HASC thanks LAC + USC Medical Center for hosting this exercise.

View photos of the event.

Contact: Pat Wall
(213) 538-0715, pwall@hasc.org