Compliance

A different type of disaster planning

Does your practice have a plan to deal with an armed intruder?

BY C. JOLYNN COOK, RN

Recent events involving armed intruders tragically bring to mind how vulnerable we all can be. Have you thought about what you would do or how you would respond if someone presented an unconcealed weapon in your patient waiting area?

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an active shooter is defined as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearm(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.”

The best defense is to have a plan ahead of time. Because it may take law enforcement 10 minutes or more to arrive, you must be prepared to mentally and physically handle the situation immediately. This is essential to protecting as many lives as possible.

When an active shooter appears, the situation is unpredictable and will evolve instantaneously. Like a fire or other disaster plan, you should hold drills to teach employees how to react in such a volatile and life-threatening situation.

The following information is condensed from the DHS website. For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/active-shooter-preparedness.

Be aware of your environment

First, and foremost, get out of the building if you can, regardless of whether others can follow. This is your best chance of survival so that you are not trapped. To do this, you need to acquaint yourself immediately with the location of the safest places in the office or ASC as well as the two nearest exits. Have an escape route and plan in mind, even if this may involve jumping out of a window.

If you can’t get out and you are in an office, stay there and secure the door. If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door. Also, if other individuals are around, prevent them from entering the area of the active shooter’s location to the best of your ability.

Stay calm

Thinking clearly is critical to survival. Your patients, visitors and others working in the practice will follow the lead of employees and managers if an active shooter appears.

Call 9-1-1 as soon as it is safe to do so (silence your phone, so it does not ring). When the police arrive, keep your hands up and do not hold anything in your hands, such as a bag. This ensures that the police do not confuse you with the shooter.

Dealing with the shooter

If you must hide, quickly determine what is available to use as a weapon to protect yourself if it becomes necessary. As a last resort, attempt to take the active shooter down — when the shooter is at close range and you cannot flee, your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her. When possible, engage multiple people in this plan.

Anything that you can do to incapacitate an armed intruder will be a better option than doing nothing, screaming, or crying. Taking action may save your life and the lives of others.

Conclusion

As the world continues to change, we need to be prepared in the event we are challenged with an armed intruder.

Take the time to plan, and visit the DHS website for more information on developing a strategy for your office. OP

Ms. Cook is the administrator of the Laurel Eye Clinic and the Laurel Laser & Surgery Centers. A Certified Ophthalmic Executive and Certified Administrator Surgery Center, she is a registered nurse and also has a degree in Health Care Administration.