Employee AwarenessEmployee Awareness

The Saint Barnabas Health Care SystemThe Saint Barnabas Health Care SystemOffice of Disaster Preparedness in Cooperation with Office of Disaster Preparedness in Cooperation with the Saint Barnabas Security & Safety Management the Saint Barnabas Security & Safety Management

ServicesServices

Suspicious Packages, Suspicious Packages, Bomb Threats, &Bomb Threats, &Hazardous SpillsHazardous Spills

The policy of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System is to The policy of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System is to provide a safe and secure environment for all of its employees, provide a safe and secure environment for all of its employees, patients, and visitors.patients, and visitors.

This presentation is designed to provide a basic understanding of your role, as an employee of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, if you happen to locate a suspicious package, receive a bomb threat, or discover a hazardous spill.

System-Wide Emergency System-Wide Emergency NumberNumber

• In the event of an emergency - Dial ***111 and In the event of an emergency - Dial ***111 and inform the operator of the emergency event.inform the operator of the emergency event.

• Relay the information to the operator and stay Relay the information to the operator and stay on the line until instructed to hang up.on the line until instructed to hang up.

Bomb ThreatsBomb Threats

• Hoax;Hoax; no bomb has been placed in the facility. These are usually designed to alter the workforce, institute a sense of fear, or test reactions to a bomb threat. 

• Bomb;Bomb; This is an actual warning of an explosive device in or near the facility. This call is an attempt to minimize personal injury, but they also enable the terrorist to blame others if there are casualties.

Bomb Threats fall into two categories:

**If a Bomb Threat is made a Code Yellow alert will be issued.**If a Bomb Threat is made a Code Yellow alert will be issued.

Bomb ThreatsBomb ThreatsDon’t Panic!Don’t Panic!

• If telephone number appears on the telephone caller identification – Write Down the NumberWrite Down the Number.

• Write down the time and date of call.

• Ask where the bomb will explode and when.

• Prolong the conversation as long as possible – refer to BOMB threat checklist.

**All two-way radio transmission is forbidden, as this may activate bomb-timing mechanism.

Bomb ThreatsBomb Threats

• Note any distinguishing background noises – Are there bells? Do you hear other voices? Music?

• Does the caller have a specific accent?

• Does the caller sound familiar with the hospital? Are they talking about a specific area (s)?

• Immediately contact your supervisor or manager.

• Try to complete the “Bomb Threat Checklist.”

Remain Calm!Remain Calm!

TELEPHONE BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST

Keep Calm! Do not get excited or excite others.

DO NOT put caller on hold or transfer to another line.

Did you notice the return number on the caller ID? ____________________________

Note Time Received____________________ and Terminated ___________________

Put down the exact words of the caller ______________________________________

Delay-Ask caller to repeat. Then ask these questions:

When is it set to explode? _________________ Where is it located? ______________

What floor? __________________________ What area? _______________________

What type of bomb? __________________ Description? _______________________

Why are you placing this bomb in the hospital? _______________________________

TELEPHONE BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST

Description of voice:Male ________ Female ________ Nervous _______ Young ______ Old_________

Middle Aged _______ Rough _________ Refined _________ Accent ____________

Any speech impediment? _______________________________________________

Did the person use any unusual phrases?___________________________________

Did you recognize the voice? ____________________________________________If so, who do you think it is? _____________________________________________

Were there any background noises? ____________________________________________Music type? _______ Running motor type? ________ Bells? _______ Horns? _____Aircraft? _______ Trains? _______ Machinery? _______ Any other clues? _______

Did the caller indicate in any way that he knew our hospital? ___________________

Note his words. _______________________________________________________

Suspicious PackagesSuspicious Packages

What makes it a suspicious package?

• Excessive tape or string

• Rigid or bulky

• Lopsided or uneven

• Protruding wires or metal

• Strange odor

• Wrong title with name

• Oily stains, discolorations, or crystallization on wrapper

Suspicious PackagesSuspicious Packages

What makes it a suspicious package?

• Package arrived under unusual circumstances

• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses

• Excessive weight

• Ticking sound

• Shows a city or state in the post mark that does not match the return address

• Misspellings of common words

• No return address

Suspicious PackagesSuspicious Packages

• Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious package or envelope.

• Place the envelope or package into a plastic bag or cover the object with anything (clothing, paper, trashcan, etc.) to prevent leakage or contamination.

• Close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering.

Call ***111 and remain in the area to await assistance.

Envelope with PowderEnvelope with Powder

• DO NOT CLEAN UP the powder.

• Cover the spilled contents immediately with anything and do not remove this cover!

• Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering or being contaminated.

• WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

Report the incident by dialing the emergency Report the incident by dialing the emergency operator at ***111 and wait for instructions.operator at ***111 and wait for instructions.

Hazardous SpillsHazardous Spills

Hazardous spills fall into two categories:Hazardous spills fall into two categories:

““Incidental” Release:Incidental” Release: The facility is capable of cleaning the spill itself.

““Uncontrollable” Release:Uncontrollable” Release: The facility is not capable of cleaning the spill and will need to call an outside source to clean the spill.

Hazardous SpillsHazardous Spills

In the event of a hazardous waste spill, the employee should In the event of a hazardous waste spill, the employee should contact the operator at ***111 to report the spill.contact the operator at ***111 to report the spill.

The employee will need to relay the following information to the operator:

• Your Name

• Spill Location; room number and department

• Type of chemical that was released (if known)

• Approximate quantity of chemical released

Hazardous SpillsHazardous Spills

The reporting employee should act as traffic control keeping patients, visitors, and staff at a safe distance until Security arrives on the scene to act as traffic control.

** If the spill is recognized as a hazardous chemical spill ** If the spill is recognized as a hazardous chemical spill a Code Orange alert will be issued.a Code Orange alert will be issued.

Emergency CodesEmergency Codes

• REDRED – FIRE– FIRE• BLUE – ADULT MEDICAL EMERGENCYBLUE – ADULT MEDICAL EMERGENCY• WHITE – PEDIATRIC MEDICAL EMERGENCYWHITE – PEDIATRIC MEDICAL EMERGENCY• AMBERAMBER – INFANT / CHILD ABDUCTION– INFANT / CHILD ABDUCTION• YELLOWYELLOW – BOMB THREAT– BOMB THREAT• GRAYGRAY – SECURITY EMERGENCY / PATIENT– SECURITY EMERGENCY / PATIENT

ELOPEMENTELOPEMENT• SILVERSILVER – PERSON WITH WEAPON/HOSTAGE– PERSON WITH WEAPON/HOSTAGE

SITUATIONSITUATION• ORANGEORANGE – HAZMAT INCIDENT– HAZMAT INCIDENT

Emergency CodesEmergency Codes

• TRIAGE – DISASTER SITUATIONTRIAGE – DISASTER SITUATION• 10 – MEDICAL INCIDENT10 – MEDICAL INCIDENT• 777 – EVACUATION777 – EVACUATION• STEMI – ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTSTEMI – ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCT• STROKE – INPATIENT STROKE OCCURRENCESTROKE – INPATIENT STROKE OCCURRENCE• CLEAR – ALL CLEAR / END OF CODECLEAR – ALL CLEAR / END OF CODE

Awareness and ResponseAwareness and Response

Each employee within the Saint Each employee within the Saint Barnabas Health Care System has a Barnabas Health Care System has a duty to ensure the safety of all patients, duty to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors, and employees. visitors, and employees.

Safety is not just a management Safety is not just a management responsibility, it’s EVERYONES responsibility, it’s EVERYONES responsibility! Get involved and learn responsibility! Get involved and learn how you can help ensure the well-how you can help ensure the well-being of our patients, visitors, and being of our patients, visitors, and employees.employees.

Please contact your facility Safety Director or the Office of Disaster Preparedness to see how you can make a difference.