Mission: To safely manage staff, patients, and visitors during a bomb threat or suspicious package situation.
Objectives
□ Document all bomb threat information
□ Immediate respond to the bomb threat when received or suspicious object is found
□ Maintain security of the facility, consider lockdown and/or evacuation
□ Control and inspect packages and materials entering critical areas for suspicious objects
□ Maintain patient care services
□ Ensure safety of the staff, patients, and visitors
Literature:
A bomb threat CODE BLACK is defined as a threat to detonate an explosive or incendiary device to cause
property damage, death, or injuries, whether or not such a device actually exists.
All bomb threats are to be taken seriously.
If you receive a bomb threat by phone, remain calm, write down the caller’s exact words, and note the time of the
call. Check for a caller ID number. Write down all the information you receive.
After the call is complete, immediately call IUPD on a landline phone to relay the information to the
dispatcher. Take no further action until you are advised to do so by police.
If you receive a bomb threat in written form, notify the IU Police Department on your campus
immediately.
Do a quick visual inspection of your area. Do not touch or move suspicious objects.
Do not use radios, pagers, or cell phones as they can trigger an explosive device.
Follow your department’s evacuation procedures.
Bomb threat call—checklist
Time of the call
Length of the call
Name of person taking the call
Exact wording of the threat
Age and gender of caller
Ask the caller
o When will the bomb explode?
o Where is the bomb?
o What does it look like?
o What will cause it to explode?
o What building is it in?
o What floor is it on?
o What is your name and address?
o Did you place the bomb? Why?
Background sounds
Clear
Restaurant sounds
Traffic
Animal/wildlife noises
Cellular phone
Local call
Music/TV playing
PA system
Conversation/talking
Weather
Factory noises
Long distance call
Office sounds
Caller’s voice
Accent
Familiar
Coughing
Deep breathing
Loud
Raspy
Angry
Laughing
Cracking voice
Distinct
Nasal
Slow
Calm
Stutter
Crying
Excited
Ragged
Soft
Disguised
Clearing throat
Deep
Lisp
Rapid
Threat language
Incoherent
Irrational
Message read
Well-spoken
Taped
Profane
STEPS:
Stop all non-essential work. Return to your work area.
Consider immediate evacuation of areas if threat is identified
Do not touch suspect item, Call 111 and activate the CODE BLACK.
Monitor response activities to ensure safety of staff, patients, and responders
Implement the bomb threat procedure
Secure the facility and stop visitors and others from entering the facility
Evacuate non-essential personnel out of the facility to a safe area
Initiate and coordinate search activities to identify suspicious objects or suspicious activity.
Security/Response Team will conduct a search of all public areas: (Bldg Perimeter, Parking
lots, Lobbies, Waiting Rooms, Public Restrooms, Cafeteria).
Liaison with responding and investigating law enforcement agencies
Liaison with the local fire department.
Consider evacuation or relocation of patients
Search work areas for anything that has arrived within the past 2 to 3 hours that you cannot
identify who the item belongs to.
Suspect items are described as anything new in the area from envelope size to tractor trailer
size that you do not know who owns the item or item appears “out-of-place”.
Administration to research who in the community would want to cause disruption to the
organization, Nursing Administration to determine what patient or family member would cause
disruption, Human Resource to evaluate labor issues.
Report concerns to 111.
Once the necessary action is taken & THE threat is cleared.
Ensure local law enforcement/bomb squad issue an “all clear” for the facility
Call 111 and announce CODE BLACK ALL CLEAR
Oversee restoration of normal hospital operations
Conduct final media briefing providing situation status, appropriate patient information and termination of the incident
Notify local emergency management, fire and EMS of termination of the incident
Oversee the safe return to normal operations and repatriation of patients
Restore patient care and management activities
Repatriate evacuated patients
Re-establish visitation and non-essential services
Compile a final report of the incident and hospital response and recovery operations
Write after-action report and corrective action plan to include the following:
Summary of actions taken
Summary of the incident
Actions that went well
Area for improvement
Recommendations for future response actions
Recommendations for correction actions
