There is a perceived sense of safety in hospitals that has little to do with security guards.
Much as in airports, dangerous situations — including bombs, shooters, abandoned bags and radiation — can be masked by the bustle characteristic of hospitals, said UNC Hospitals officials who led a routine information session on safety issues Tuesday.
The training served as an overview of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats that can be avoided through awareness and security diligence.
UNC Fire Safety Inspector T.J. DeLuca said shooters and terrorists can capitalize on the sense of security felt on college campuses.
“If you’d asked students at Virginia Tech whether there was a possibility of a shooter before that day, they’d probably tell you, ‘No, I don’t think so’,” DeLuca said.
The public pays attention to popular spaces — such as Kenan Stadium and the Smith Center, which have increased security — but might not think of the hospital as vulnerable, he added.
“The point is, (chemicals) are available. And if it’s available to use in a work sense, it’s available for people to use as a weapon,” DeLuca said.
“We have to understand the threats in order to protect ourselves and once we understand that, we can protect others,” he added.
Jonathan Moore, associate radiation safety officer in the Office of Environment, Health and Safety, stressed that the biggest threat in a situation involving radiation is fear.