So after years of having to watch a training video as part of our annual training modules (that I swear I did like, 6 times in as many weeks), we had our first live drill. It was a fairly massive undertaking, coordinating with hospital administration, the local PD, EMS, FD, and a group of actors to play the part of victims. There were signs and flyers posted all over the hospital informing of the drill so a well-meaning bystander (or hospital employee who didn't get the memo) wouldn't call it in as a real emergency.
It was up to the individual departments to decide where to hunker down and how to make their area as secure as possible. Imaging techs can be an endlessly creative bunch, plus we have a lot of lead containers laying around. Air Head and I opted to go into the hot lab. It has a coded lock on one door and the back door where the pharmacy comes in is locked and has to be opened by security. In the department itself, we shoved the computer cart in front of one door and locked the wheels. No one getting in that way. The other computer and chair got wedged in front of the side door, and the back door had our injection table and an IV pump. Not as secure, but probably enough to deter someone who just wants to create mayhem.
Nothing to do after that but hunker down, be quiet, and wait for the all clear. At least in theory.
They say no battle plan survives contact with the enemy and the same seems to be true of drills. Apparently, one of our patients was getting antsy. They had been informed of the drill, but she was high strung to begin with, so of course she wouldn't be happy about the delay. And, as this was the first time we'd ever done this kind of drill, it probably was taking longer by virtue of everyone involved still learning.
So as Air Head and I are chilling, scrolling through FB to pass the time, her phone starts ringing (on vibrate). She looks up at me kinda panicked.
AH: *whispering* It's BossLady. Should I answer it?
Me: Probably.
AH: *as quietly as possible* Hello?
BL: Where are you hiding?
AH: In the hot lab. Why?
BL: Your patients are getting angry. We probably need to get them going.
Me: *after being relayed this info* We haven't gotten an all clear yet.
A few minutes later, our back door starts opening. I grabbed one of our lead boxes ready to swing it at whoever came through the door when BL pokes her head in and gives me a startled look when she sees the box.
BL: Ok then...The PD has already cleared this area, so we're releasing only the two of you to scan your patients.
Me: *thinking* Yes, because patient satisfaction is more important than my, albeit simulated, life.
And so we resumed our normal duties. There is something insanely creepy about a quiet and empty hospital. I was already a bit on edge due to the drill and that just added to it. Within the next 10 or so minutes, the all clear was given over the intercom and we convened for a debrief.
The PD officer in charge seemed very impressed with how secure all the departments were with all of the stuff shoved in front of doors to prevent someone coming in. In some cases, we might have done a little too well since even the PD couldn't get in to clear the room. That's something that will have to be addressed in the future. There are other kinks that need to be worked out such as a more secure ER and more intercom speakers (the closest one to us is in the hall and we can't hear it from the hot lab). The video should be available in a few weeks so that should be interesting to see. All in all though, a very successful first drill. Now to see when or if the suits make the improvements we need.
It was up to the individual departments to decide where to hunker down and how to make their area as secure as possible. Imaging techs can be an endlessly creative bunch, plus we have a lot of lead containers laying around. Air Head and I opted to go into the hot lab. It has a coded lock on one door and the back door where the pharmacy comes in is locked and has to be opened by security. In the department itself, we shoved the computer cart in front of one door and locked the wheels. No one getting in that way. The other computer and chair got wedged in front of the side door, and the back door had our injection table and an IV pump. Not as secure, but probably enough to deter someone who just wants to create mayhem.
Nothing to do after that but hunker down, be quiet, and wait for the all clear. At least in theory.
They say no battle plan survives contact with the enemy and the same seems to be true of drills. Apparently, one of our patients was getting antsy. They had been informed of the drill, but she was high strung to begin with, so of course she wouldn't be happy about the delay. And, as this was the first time we'd ever done this kind of drill, it probably was taking longer by virtue of everyone involved still learning.
So as Air Head and I are chilling, scrolling through FB to pass the time, her phone starts ringing (on vibrate). She looks up at me kinda panicked.
AH: *whispering* It's BossLady. Should I answer it?
Me: Probably.
AH: *as quietly as possible* Hello?
BL: Where are you hiding?
AH: In the hot lab. Why?
BL: Your patients are getting angry. We probably need to get them going.
Me: *after being relayed this info* We haven't gotten an all clear yet.
A few minutes later, our back door starts opening. I grabbed one of our lead boxes ready to swing it at whoever came through the door when BL pokes her head in and gives me a startled look when she sees the box.
BL: Ok then...The PD has already cleared this area, so we're releasing only the two of you to scan your patients.
Me: *thinking* Yes, because patient satisfaction is more important than my, albeit simulated, life.
And so we resumed our normal duties. There is something insanely creepy about a quiet and empty hospital. I was already a bit on edge due to the drill and that just added to it. Within the next 10 or so minutes, the all clear was given over the intercom and we convened for a debrief.
The PD officer in charge seemed very impressed with how secure all the departments were with all of the stuff shoved in front of doors to prevent someone coming in. In some cases, we might have done a little too well since even the PD couldn't get in to clear the room. That's something that will have to be addressed in the future. There are other kinks that need to be worked out such as a more secure ER and more intercom speakers (the closest one to us is in the hall and we can't hear it from the hot lab). The video should be available in a few weeks so that should be interesting to see. All in all though, a very successful first drill. Now to see when or if the suits make the improvements we need.
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