In an effort to better prepare the campus for an actual emergency, Loma Linda University Health’s department of environmental health & safety is hosting its quarterly disaster drill on campus on Thursday, March 26.
The drill will practice a code red (fire) incident that escalates.
It will begin around 9:00 a.m with a simulated fire scenario involving LLU Children’s Hospital on units 5800 and 4700. A code gray will initially be called after an individual is seen wandering in and out of patient areas.
Said individual will pretend to set a fire on unit 5800 and 4700 and flee the scene. The activation of the fire alarm system will occur requiring the unconditional response of on-duty personnel. The suspect will be pursued on foot by campus security and law enforcement through various areas of campus.
The drill will finish around noon.
During the drill, the hospital incident command center will be activated. Campuswide communication will be sent out using the emergency notification system, Send Word Now. Communication will be sent to all students and staff throughout the drill to LLU emails, pagers and cell phones by way of text message.
Students and staff members of Loma Linda University Health will receive messaging in the manner they selected in the personal information section of Performance Manager. You cannot opt out of these messages. In the event of an actual emergency, it is imperative that the incident command center is able to communicate updates to everyone as necessary.
“Staff and students are reminded that an actual emergency can happen at any given time,” says Brett McPherson, director, environmental health & safety. “Do you know your department protocols? Do you have an emergency preparedness plan at home as well? These campus drills should remind staff and students to test their level of knowledge and preparation in regard to any type of disaster, be it a fire, earthquake, active shooter, etc.”
Although this drill is heavily focused on the Medical Center side of the organization, all Loma Linda University Health entities are encouraged to participate at some level. If you or your department wishes to participate in the drill, please contact environmental health and safety at 909-651-4019.