Seems to me that every organization has a Barney Fife. You know the type, a little too enthusiastic, and with a warped sense of priority and proportion.

That sort of guy makes a good sidekick and functionary as long as they are tightly supervised and kept away from anything that might cause harm.

The issue isn't so much a matter of a security guy going too far. It is a matter of who put him in a position where his lack of judgment was allowed to play out.

If the fake gunman had gotten shot or if a patient had gotten hurt, then things would have gotten super weird. It's a good thing they didn't try that nonsense in Texas, Kentucky or Utah, where someone would have been armed probably.

Why not? I've been peripherally involved with the planning of drills, and I see long lists of things that can't be hit. Sometimes the only legal exercise target is the vending machine by the loading dock becuase everyone is afraid of potentially interfering with normal operations. Same kind of thinking says "well, it's just a firedrill, we won't evacuate anyone becuase we've never had a real fire before."

The only thing I'd say is off limits for this kind of drill is ED, OR and pediatrics. Although those are other places where a nut is likely to crack.

But from what I've seen of this, there is plenty of blame to go around. Sounds like the security director was a twit, but they guy who was telling him to run a drill without training or budget needs to go to.

"The only thing I'd say is off limits for this kind of drill is ED, OR and pediatrics."

OR, sure, but ED and Pediatrics? I am curious why you think those two should be off limits, but IC shouldn't be. ED: a few broken bones, a dog bite and junkies trying to connive a fix. Pediatrics? That's just babies, they're either crying or sleeping, and they wouldn't know a terrorist from banana.

It isn't like all the patients in ICU are supremely stable. One had a blocked airway at the time.

And it didn't sound like that off-duty cop did his homework, either.

Sue

Be honest... Are you the guy who masterminded the drill in the article?

I'm so irritated by the blatant negligence of this drill that I can't even critique the response of the nurses.

"Sometimes the only legal exercise target is the vending machine by the loading dock because everyone is afraid of potentially interfering with normal operations."

Actually drills involving the receiving/loading dock/ mail centers are good ideas- these areas are frequently "passed through" in workplace violence incidents. Shipping companies, vendors coming and going, employees passing through the area on the way to fastest outside smoking area. Goblins and other "disgruntled"s prefer the less restricted areas than coming through the front door reception.

And from a timing standpoint, shift change is one of the higher vulnerability timeframes.

The shooting this morning in Albuquerque first 911 call in was at 9:26AM- It is being described as an ex boyfriend relationship and something tells me that a Monday morning shooter works themselves up over a weekend and strikes early in the day.

So that we don't get too far off the "urban preparedness" theme, what can you do to protect yourself if a "pitched gun-battle" starts breaking out over in accounting? :-)

You'd have to go to one of the gun sites I frequent to see my honest response.

Lock the door and hope they did your payroll already?

Yes and no. I've seen a lot more people survive a gunshot than a cardiac arrest.

And sometimes, the best action is no action. "Don't just do something, stand there!" Why do a shoot out in the middle of the ICU, when you can do it at any time up to the point he starts shooting? Let the day ride out a little and see where you may end up.

Hit the concrete floor and start digging.

Keep an eye on Dallas. If the schmucks in my company's payroll department don't clean up their sloppy work, someone is going to get mad. TX is one of those gun places.

Sue