Having just come back from from the IRTB course, there are many "lessons learned" that I believe we can all gain great insight from. I will begin to put out a series of posts on these "pearls" of wisdom in small chunks so they can be thoughtfully processed and discussions initiated. Again, if you have responsibility for emergency/disaster planning, I HIGHLY recommend that you make an attempt to attend this course.
Force protection - a new paradigm for hospitals
While hospitals strive to be open and welcoming environments (especially while competing for business in this economy and new era of customer choice), they must also become increasingly more vigilant. Hospitals as TARGETS of terrorist acts is a discussion that is rarely entertained. History, as well as daily events abroad, tell us that it is not a matter of if we get attacked again...but when, where, and how.
One of the new strategies that MUST be considered going forward is the protection of our staff as they care for the lives of others. As is the case with most who blindly race to the aid of others, self protection is often lost in the heat of the moment. Does your facility have plans to provide for safety in triage or mass casualty areas. Here is the shift: I am not talking about gloves and gowns. I am asking if there are plans to protect against secondary devices, homicidal/suicidal bombers, snipers, etc. Do you have plans for local law enforcement to provide force protection? This is what I mean by bridging the gaps.
Do your homework, make some calls, and start coordinating and cross training with other responders in your locale (LE, EMS Fire, Utilities, etc).
Stay tuned for more and stay safe.
