Ideas That Work: Designate Safe Rooms

SAFE ROOM Silver stickers on the door facing designate safe rooms throughout the facility.

Designate Safe Rooms

A patient's son went on a stabbing spree at our busy surgical center and GI lab 3 years ago. While in the waiting room, he pulled out a 6-inch knife and stabbed 3 people, killing 2: a pre-op nurse and a man waiting to take his son home. Since the attack, we've taken many steps to improve safety and security at our facility. For example, only staff with an RFID (radio frequency identification) badge can access clinical areas of the facility. We installed panic alarms, peep holes in doors and security cameras to monitor access points. We also designated certain restrooms, offices and break rooms as safe rooms. We placed a large silver sticker on the door facing to identify each locking safe room (we chose silver because our armed assailant plan is called "Code Silver"). We trained staff to ensure they're all aware of the locations of the safe rooms in case they, our patients or our visitors ever have to shelter in place. As our incident taught us, it's best to be prepared for an armed assailant.

Beth Chrismer, MSN, RN
Good Shepherd Ambulatory Surgical Center
Longview, Texas
[email protected]