| |
NORTHERN COCHISE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
EXPLOSIVE INCIDENT POLICY
DEPARTMENT: Safety
SUBJECT: Explosive Incident
Reviewed By:
| Review Date
| Committee
| 07/20/17
| Med Staff
| 08/28/17
| Governing Board
| 09/26/17
|
REFERENCES:
SCOPE: All NCCH Staff.
POLICY: Explosive Incident/Bomb Threat.
PROCEDURE:
Introduction:
In the event of a Bomb Threat/Explosive Incident, the first responsibility of every employee is the safety of patients, visitors, and other staff members. Employees also have the responsibility to know and understand the bomb threat plan. A bomb in a hospital can reach tragic proportions if the staff does not act immediately and correctly.
General Response:
Receipt of Bomb Threat (Telephone Communication)
Evacuation Procedures:
- The decision to evacuate an area of the facility, upon discovery of suspicious item, shall be made by the command center with reference to the emergency evacuation plan,
Availability of Equipment:
- Keys:
- All keys are located in the Environment Services or Plant Operations Department.
- EVS personnel shall be made available to the search teams, to assist with all locked rooms being searched.
- The Administrator and Director of Plant Operations shall assist search commanders during the search so that his/her knowledge of the keys and floor plan can be used to expedite the search.
- Blankets:
- Additional blankets obtained from the EVS Department if needed during an evacuation.
- Portable Oxygen Tanks:
- Emergency Room
- Respiratory Therapy
- Carts:
- Ambulance Care Unit
- Emergency Room
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Ultra Sound
Law Enforcement Responsibilities:
- Immediately upon arriving at the scene, the local law enforcement authorities shall secure a perimeter around the facility. Additionally, the authorities shall search all exterior and common areas with the assistance of a hospital maintenance technician.
- The local law enforcement agency, having jurisdiction over such matters, shall intervene upon discovery of a suspicious container or device.
Search Terms:
- The search commander shall assign or designate a person(s) of this facility to assist in the search when deemed necessary.
- This facility shall authorize the use of its employees to assist the search commander. However, employees shall have the right to refrain from assisting in the search if they so choose.
- Any employee(s) so designated to assist in the search shall answer fully any questions posed by the search commander and provide any information requested.
Searching of Premises:
- Once search teams have been organized, a thorough search of the building and grounds shall be made.
- During the search, particular attention shall be given to all areas accessible to the general public, i.e.; windows, behind shrubbery, platforms, lobbies, waste cans, restrooms, ceiling lights, corridors, closet areas, storage areas, etc.
Locating Suspicious Objects:
- It must be emphasized that your mission is only to search for and report suspicious objects to the search team leaders. It is imperative that you remember you are only employees involved as search members in the search.
- Should a suspicious object be located, DO NOT move, jar or touch the object or anything attached to it. Leave it exactly the way you found it.
- Immediately upon discovering a suspicious object, notify your search team leader and follow all instructions.
- Once the search commander or search team leader has arrived at your location, the decision shall be made as to continue searching for other objects or not.
Removal of Suspicious Objects:
- Once the search is completed, or has been terminated by the search commander, all employees participating in the search shall leave the premises and return to the assemble areas designated during the evacuation process unless otherwise instructed by the search commander.
- Only authorized law enforcement officials shall remain in the area during the removal of the suspicious object(s) and such agencies shall direct the removal as quickly as possible.
- Prior to the removal of any objects a pre-selected area will have been designated by the search commander. This area shall be away from designated assembly areas, as many buildings as possible, and shall be kept clear of all unauthorized personnel at all times.
All Clear Signals:
After the search has been completed an ALL CLEAR shall be announced after a confirmation has been obtained from the Police Department or Fire Department stating the building has been searched and nothing found, or the item(s) found have been removed.
Telephone Procedures:
The person answering the telephone SHALL NOT give out any information, unless so authorized, concerning the Bomb Threat to ANY caller.
Publicity:
- Publicity shall be avoided as much as possible for this only generates a tendency to create additional threats.
- Only the CEO, or his/her designee, shall answer questions concerning this matter, and only those persons with a need-to-know basis.
Damage to the Facility:
Should this facility be damaged by an explosion, immediate implementation of the NCCH Disaster Preparedness Plan shall begin.
Evaluation
Following each activation of the Code Yellow Plan, an evaluation may be conducted. The evaluation may be facilitated by NCCH Administration, or the DON or designee, and would normally include staff directly involved with the Code Yellow. Such evaluations would be conducted at the discretion of NCCH.
In such evaluations, all information provided is considered confidential and for the purposes of quality assurance review activities. A health care entity, or employee that provides information, takes action or makes a decision or recommendation in the course os a quality assurance process shall not be subject to liability for civil damages or any legal action in consequence of such action. (ARE 36-2402)
|
SAFE-PLAN-012-2
|
|
