Craven

In light of recent events, Archbold Memorial Hospital and Archbold’s Grady General Hospital will participate in community active shooter drills, during which hospital staff will simulate a response to a “Code Silver.”

Code Silver is the hospital’s non-clinical emergency code used to alert staff and visitors of an active shooter or anyone engaged in trying to kill others with any weapon on the hospital campus.

The system frequently holds drills to remind staff how to respond to internal emergencies or disasters. In addition, the system routinely partners with local law enforcement and first responders to simulate external events, which would result in enacting the activation of a county-wide emergency management plan.

“Our staff knows how to respond to the everyday medical emergency,” said Darcy Craven, president and CEO of Archbold Medical Center. “But it’s so important that our staff keeps their skills sharp on responding to emergencies that don’t happen regularly like an active shooter.”

“Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and employees,” added Craven.

“Continuously evaluating policies and procedures for potential emergency events allows our community partners like Archbold and us to create joint plans that will help ensure the safety of community members,” said Chris Jones, Thomas County Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief.

The staged scenarios vary in scope from discussion-based exercises known as table-top drills to full-scale exercises that include all the components of a functional exercise and add the actual responding field units. The community is often notified of the full-scale exercises ahead of the event.

The emergency preparedness drills will be taking place during the next few weeks.