Denver Health announced Tuesday that it will conduct a routine emergency drill from 5-9 a.m. Wednesday in its Emergency Department.
The drill will simulate an active shooter scenario.
In a statement a spokesperson for Denver Health emphasized that no firearms or live ammunition will be used, but that the simulation would be lifelike, using actors to play patients and visitors to ensure staff are well-prepared in case of the real thing.
These procedures were introduced in 2014, but this year’s tragedies have raised the stakes of emergency prep everywhere from polling places to hospitals.
In September, reports of an active shooter at Rose Medical Center locked down the hospital for hours. Neither a suspect, nor a weapon was ever found and no one was injured.
In June, Denver Health announced it would offer four free training sessions to teach community members how to tie a tourniquet, in case of an active shooter scenario.
Denver Health's simulation will be conducted in the Emergency Department from 5-9 a.m. and will not affect business or clinical operations.
Multimedia business & healthcare reporter Chloe Aiello can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/chlobo_ilo.
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