Employee Awareness

Suspicious Packages,
Bomb Threats, &
Hazardous Spills

The Saint Barnabas Health Care System

Office of Disaster Preparedness in Cooperation with the Saint Barnabas
Security & Safety Management Services
The policy of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System is to
provide a safe and secure environment for all of its employees,
patients, and visitors.

This presentation is designed

to provide a basic
understanding of your role, as
an employee of the Saint
Barnabas Health Care System,
if you happen to locate a
suspicious package, receive a
bomb threat, or discover a
hazardous spill.
 System-Wide Emergency Number
• In the event of an emergency - Dial ***111 and
inform the operator of the emergency event.
• Relay the information to the operator and stay
on the line until instructed to hang up.
 Bomb Threats
Bomb Threats fall into two categories:

• Hoax; no bomb has been placed in the

facility. These are usually designed to alter
the workforce, institute a sense of fear, or
test reactions to a bomb threat.

• Bomb; This is an actual warning of an

explosive device in or near the facility. This
call is an attempt to minimize personal
injury, but they also enable the terrorist to
blame others if there are casualties.

**If a Bomb Threat is made a Code Yellow alert will be issued.

 Bomb Threats
Don’t Panic!

• If telephone number appears on

the telephone caller identification
– Write Down the Number.
• Write down the time and date of
call.
• Ask where the bomb will
explode and when.
• Prolong the conversation as
long as possible – refer to BOMB
threat checklist.

**All two-way radio transmission is forbidden, as this may

activate bomb-timing mechanism.
 Bomb Threats
Remain Calm!

• Note any distinguishing

background noises – Are there
bells? Do you hear other voices?
Music?
• Does the caller have a specific
accent?
• Does the caller sound familiar with
the hospital? Are they talking about
a specific area (s)?
• Immediately contact your
supervisor or manager.
• Try to complete the “Bomb Threat
Checklist.”
 TELEPHONE BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST

Keep Calm! Do not get excited or excite others.

DO NOT put caller on hold or transfer to another line.

Did you notice the return number on the caller ID? ____________________________

Note Time Received____________________ and Terminated ___________________

Put down the exact words of the caller ______________________________________

Delay-Ask caller to repeat. Then ask these questions:

When is it set to explode? _________________ Where is it located? ______________

What floor? __________________________ What area? _______________________

What type of bomb? __________________ Description? _______________________

Why are you placing this bomb in the hospital? _______________________________

 TELEPHONE BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST
Description of voice:
Male ________ Female ________ Nervous _______ Young ______ Old_________

Middle Aged _______ Rough _________ Refined _________ Accent ____________

Any speech impediment? _______________________________________________

Did the person use any unusual phrases?___________________________________

Did you recognize the voice? ____________________________________________

If so, who do you think it is? _____________________________________________

Were there any background noises?

____________________________________________
Music type? _______ Running motor type? ________ Bells? _______ Horns? _____
Aircraft? _______ Trains? _______ Machinery? _______ Any other clues? _______

Did the caller indicate in any way that he knew our hospital? ___________________

Note his words. _______________________________________________________

 Suspicious Packages
What makes it a suspicious package?

• Excessive tape or string

• Rigid or bulky
• Lopsided or uneven
• Protruding wires or metal
• Strange odor
• Wrong title with name
• Oily stains, discolorations, or
crystallization on wrapper
 Suspicious Packages
What makes it a suspicious package?

• Package arrived under unusual

circumstances
• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
• Excessive weight
• Ticking sound
• Shows a city or state in the post mark
that does not match the return address
• Misspellings of common words
• No return address
 Suspicious Packages
• Do not shake or empty the
contents of any suspicious package
or envelope.
• Place the envelope or package into
a plastic bag or cover the object with
anything (clothing, paper, trashcan,
etc.) to prevent leakage or
contamination.
• Close the door, or section off the
area to prevent others from entering.

Call ***111 and remain in the area to await assistance.

 Envelope with Powder
• DO NOT CLEAN UP the powder.
• Cover the spilled contents
immediately with anything and do not
remove this cover!
• Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the
door, or section off the area to prevent
others from entering or being
contaminated.
• WASH your hands with soap and
water to prevent spreading any powder
to your face.

Report the incident by dialing the emergency

operator at ***111 and wait for instructions.
 Hazardous Spills
Hazardous spills fall into two categories:

“Incidental” Release: The facility is capable of

cleaning the spill itself.

“Uncontrollable” Release: The facility is not

capable of cleaning the spill and will need to
call an outside source to clean the spill.
 Hazardous Spills
In the event of a hazardous waste spill, the employee should
contact the operator at ***111 to report the spill.

The employee will need to

relay the following
information to the operator:
• Your Name
• Spill Location; room number
and department
• Type of chemical that was
released (if known)
• Approximate quantity of
chemical released
 Hazardous Spills

The reporting employee

should act as traffic
control keeping patients,
visitors, and staff at a
safe distance until
Security arrives on the
scene to act as traffic
control.

** If the spill is recognized as a hazardous chemical spill

a Code Orange alert will be issued.
 Emergency Codes
• RED – FIRE
• BLUE – ADULT MEDICAL EMERGENCY
• WHITE – PEDIATRIC MEDICAL EMERGENCY
• AMBER – INFANT / CHILD ABDUCTION
• YELLOW – BOMB THREAT
• GRAY – SECURITY EMERGENCY / PATIENT
ELOPEMENT
• SILVER – PERSON WITH WEAPON/HOSTAGE
SITUATION
• ORANGE – HAZMAT INCIDENT
 Emergency Codes

• TRIAGE – DISASTER SITUATION

• 10 – MEDICAL INCIDENT
• 777 – EVACUATION
• STEMI – ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCT
• STROKE – INPATIENT STROKE OCCURRENCE
• CLEAR – ALL CLEAR / END OF CODE
 Awareness and Response
Each employee within the Saint
Barnabas Health Care System has a
duty to ensure the safety of all patients,
visitors, and employees.

Safety is not just a management

responsibility, it’s EVERYONES
responsibility! Get involved and learn
how you can help ensure the well-
being of our patients, visitors, and
employees.

Please contact your facility Safety Director or the Office of

Disaster Preparedness to see how you can make a difference.