GODERICH – A mock hostage taking at the Goderich hospital this week was a test of teamwork.
The Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, in collaboration with the Huron County OPP detachment, tested the organization’s ability to respond to a hostage taking – or Code Purple – in the emergency department on Dec 4. In this scenario, a domestic dispute escalated to a hostage taking with a knife. Nine officers from the Huron County OPP responded.
As part of the Goderich Hospital emergency preparedness activities, the hospital routinely tests the organization’s ability to respond to a multitude of events.
Code Purple requires and supports an immediate response where a hostage is taken in a hospital. Code Purple leads to facility staff
AMGH staff Paul Black and Deb Robertson play the roles in a mock hostage taking situation this week.
contacting police and working to restrict the area and if possible evacuate patients, visitors, and staff from the immediate or surrounding area. They distinguish it from Code White issued in the event of a violent or behavioural situation where staff could come to help and potentially detain the aggressive person, with assistance from police when required. It is possible to have a Code White escalate to a Code Purple.
“This was the first time the hospital has completed a full test of Code Purple with police involvement. Overall, this was an excellent exercise with staff and police working together to ensure safety for everyone,” said Richard Bedard, who is incident commander for emergency preparedness at the hospital.
“This was an excellent collaborative working experience between our two agencies,” said Shawn Johnson, who is the operations manager with the OPP. “While we routinely practice for these types of situations, to be able to run through a scenario in real time in a building during business hours better equips our personnel, in the event they are called to respond in a real situation.”
