Hospital Incident Commander

BOMB THREAT PLAN

“CODE SEARCH”

DEFINITION: A threat made to damage the facility with an explosive device.

MITIGATION PREPARATION

 Staff Education  Hospital Incident Command System (HICS)  Established Relationships with External  Response Plan Agencies  Bomb Threat Phone Call Checklist  Lobby Greeter/ Checkpoint  Staff Education / Drills  Visitor/ Vendor Sign-in Log  Equipment / Supplies  Night hours lockdown procedures  Communication Systems  Hazard Vulnerability Analysis  Security Risk Assessment

RESPONSE RECOVERY

 HICS Activation  After Action Report / Review  Staff Activation  Maintain HICS  Emergency Event Announcement  Building Repairs  Mutual Aid and Sheltering Agreement  Re-entry Plans (MASA) Activation  Replenish Inventory  Communication Systems  Financial Obligations  External Agency Activation  Public Relations Follow-up

SRMC BOMB THREAT PLAN

of 7 PURPOSE:

To Safeguard Patients and Staff in the event of a bomb threat, this policy will be followed.

General Employees

If you receive a bomb threat phone call:

 Do not panic. Do not sound distraught or frightened.

 Try to keep the caller on the line while you fill out the bomb threat phone call checklist on the next page. Try to ask the questions at the bottom of the checklist.

 If possible while still on the phone, alert another employee to call Security at 66333, off site dial 9-911 and inform them of the situation and of the extension that the bomb threat call is being received on.

 Ask the caller to repeat the message. This will both extend the length of the call, thus perhaps allowing for the arrival of Security/law enforcement assistance and will also serve to clarify information from the caller.

 Advise the caller of the seriousness of the threat.

After the bomb threat call:

 If unable to do so previously, call Security at 66333 now immediately.

 Also contact the Emergency Operator at 3333

 Notify your immediate supervisor of the situation.

 If you have a cell phone, two-way radio, pager, or any such device, turn it off immediately, and instruct others around you to do the same.

 Do not tell patients or visitors about bomb threats, but if they already know, assure them all is well.

If you are called upon to assist in the search procedure for a bomb:

 Follow the instructions listed under Room Search Guidelines on page 3 of this plan.

 Do not close windows or doors unless directed to do so by the search team. Individual areas may be closed off by the search team at their discretion.

of 7 BOMB THREAT PHONE CALL FORM

Try to keep the caller on the phone as long as possible.

Time: Date: Exact Language Used:

Voice:  Male  Female Estimated Age: Estimated Race: Length of Call: Number at which call was received: Speech (check where applicable):  Calm  Angry  Excited  Slow  Rapid  Soft  Loud  Laughing  Crying  Normal  Distinct  Slurred  Whispered  Nasal  Stutter  Lisp  Raspy  Deep  Ragged  Clearing Throat  Deep Breathing  Cracking Voice  Disguised  Familiar  Sincere  Accent/broken English: ______ Other: ______Threat Language  Well spoken (educated)  Foul language  Irrational  Incoherent  Rambling  Taped  Message read by caller  Other: ______Background Noises:  Street noises  Voices  PA System  Music  House noises  Motor  Airplanes  Church bells  Clear  Static  Office machinery  Factory machinery  Animal noises  Local  Long distance  Other: ______Ask, “Where is the bomb?”

Ask, “What time will it go off?”

Ask, “What does it look like?”

Ask, “What kind of explosive is it?”

Ask, “What will cause it to explode?”

Ask, “Why are you doing this?”

Ask, “What is your name?”

Ask, “What is your address?”

Does the person seem to know the hospital (e.g. by knowing locations, etc.)?  Yes  No Other comments: Name of person receiving call: Extension: Dept:

of 7 SRMC BOMB THREAT PLAN Room Search Guidelines

Two-Person Room Search

Why do I have to search my area? It is a fundamental rule that a search must be made by people who are familiar with the area and will notice a foreign object.

Alternate –

The responding Bomb Squad will assist in the search of the involved department(s) and may search the entire facility at their discretion.

1. Administration will assign members to the search team. The search team will include all available Security personnel.

2. One member of each department, familiar with the layout, should accompany the search team in order to identify possible suspicious objects.

3. All patients and staff in unaffected areas will not be informed of the situation, to avoid panic and rumors.

The search teams will direct and completely control the search procedure.

Special Rules:

 Turn off your cell phone, two-way radio, pager, and any such devices. These devices may become the “trigger” for an explosive.

 Do not do anything to change the environment. Detonating or igniting an explosive or incendiary device may depend on a change in environment; e.g., temperature variation, the presence of an electrical current, etc. Do not go into a dark room and turn on the lights; use a flashlight. Do not change the setting of thermostats.

 If you find anything resembling a bomb, DO NOT TOUCH IT !!

 Call Security immediately at 66333 or notify a Security Officer or police officer if they have already arrived in your area.

 Clear the area quietly.

 Try to isolate the object as much as possible by closing doors.

 If you see what appears to be a bomb and it appears to have a fuse that’s already burned out, beware. Bombs may have two fuses.

of 7 Search Procedure:

First Sweep

 Pair up with another employee and decide who is in charge of the room search. The person in charge of the room search should look around the room and determine how the room is to be divided for searching and to what height the first searching sweep shall extend. The first searching sweep will cover all items resting on the floor up to the selected height (hip height, for example).

 Divide the room into equal parts or as near equal as possible. This equal division shall be based on the number and type of objects in the room to be searched, not the size of the room.

 Draw an imaginary line between two objects in the room i.e., the edge of the window on the north wall to the floor lamp on the south wall.

 During all searching sweeps, use the electronic or medical stethoscope on walls, furniture items, floors, etc.

 Both people should then go to one end of the room division line and start from a back- to-back position. This is the starting point, and the same point will be used on each successive searching sweep. Each of you should now start searching your way around the room, working toward the other person, checking all items resting on the floor around the wall area of the room. Do not forget to check the floor under the rugs, and also be sure to include those items which may be mounted on or in the walls, such as air conditioning ducts, baseboard heaters, built-in wall cupboards, etc., if these fixtures are below hip height. When you meet, you will have completed a “wall sweep” and should then work together and check all items in the middle of the room up to the selected hip height.

Second Sweep

 The person in charge again looks at the furniture or objects in the room and determines the height of the second searching sweep. This height is usually from the hip to the chin or top of the head. Once the height is decided upon, return to the starting point and repeat the searching techniques at the second selected searching height. Be sure to include pictures hanging on the walls, built-in bookcases, tall table lamps, etc.

Third Sweep

 The person in charge again determines the next searching height, usually from the chin or top of the head to the ceiling. Make the third sweep, including high mounted air conditioning ducts, hanging light fixtures, etc.

Fourth Sweep

of 7  If the room has a false or suspended ceiling, the fourth sweep involves investigation of this area. Check flush or ceiling mounted light fixtures, air conditioning or ventilation ducts, sound or speaker systems, electrical wiring, structural frame members, etc.

Once you have finished all necessary sweeps, report the status of your room search to your department manager/designee.

OTHER DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES Administration

 Open up Hospital Command Center.  After receiving briefing from the Security Officer, commission all appropriate department heads to perform a thorough search of their areas using the Bomb Threat Room Search Guidelines and to report back to the Emergency Operation Center.

 Implement HICS Hospital Incident Command procedures

 Liaison Officer and Safety Officer will work with local law enforcement officials upon their arrival.

 If evacuation becomes necessary, refer to the Evacuation Plan.

 When notified by law enforcement that the area is clear, contact all appropriate parties.

 Incident Commander will arrange for post-incident crisis de-briefing for all affected staff, particularly the employee who received the bomb threat phone call.

 Send your analysis of the event to the Emergency Manager for critique purposes.

Communications

 Upon notification of a bomb threat, the switchboard will initiate established telephone line trace procedures. It must be noted that only calls routed through the switchboard are traceable. Calls coming in directly to a direct inward dial line cannot be traced.

Facilities

 Coordinate with Security to meet with law enforcement personnel upon their arrival. Have master keys and floor plans ready for them.

Public Information Officer

 Establish a Press area in the Chapman Board Room if necessary.

of 7  Prepare for the Communications Department a written response they may use if called about the situation.

 Issue an initial incident information report to the news media with the cooperation of the Incident Commander, Security, and the senior law enforcement official on the scene.

 If the bomb threat affects the Regional Outpatient Center and if outpatient visits are canceled, evaluate contacting the media so that an announcement can be made regarding the need to cancel these visits.

Security

 Notify the Public Safety and Fire Departments and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department.

 Notify the Administrator on Call immediately. After hours or on the weekend, also notify the Nursing Administrative Supervisor.

 Assist in the search procedure, providing any support necessary to local law enforcement.

 If you are notified of the finding of a bomb or suspicious-looking object:

 Block the area within a 300-foot radius, which should include the floors above and below the area.  Advise Facilities to cut off all power in the building, wherever possible.

Originated: 1994 Revised: April 25, 1997; August 7, 2000; March 20, 2001; February 4, 2003, January 20, 2006, January 2008 Reviewed: July 2004, July 2005, June 2007