Safety

Florida hospital on mock high-alert during drill

Hospital Safety Insider, May 1, 2014

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At least five people were “killed” Tuesday morning – including a responding police officer and the shooter - from gunshots fired at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring, Fla. By 11 a.m., they all got up and went home in time for lunch, according to the newspaper Highlands Today.
 
The victims were all part of an active shooter drill that was held at the facility at around 10 a.m., beginning with a report of “shots fired” the hospital’s emergency room. Responding units and hospital staff were not told about the drill ahead of time to make it as authentic as possible. Participants wore vests with identification badges and informational signs were set up informing the public a drill was occurring, according to the paper’s report.
 
The exercise was held in real time, and about 30 personnel from local fire and police departments responded, as well as emergency medical personnel. Hospital officials practiced handling the crisis by giving faux “press conferences” to keep the public updated, and the drill was followed around noon with a debriefing session with all participants involved, according to the paper.
 
Also according to the report, the emergency preparation drill is held twice as year, as required by The Joint Commission and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

 



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