Edmond Mayor Mark Nash said the shooting took place at a public park where spaces can be reserved for large gatherings. “To our knowledge, there was no reservation through the parks department,” he said. The mayor held a press conference Monday night in an attempt to reassure the public that the community and the park were safe, and one of the more popular spots locals frequented during the summer, so much so that they designated a resource officer to patrol during the busiest months.

“I want to speak clearly to the residents of Edmond: our community remains safe,” Nash said in a statement. “Arcadia Lake is one of our community’s crown jewels; a place where families hike, camp, fish, and spend time together. That is the Arcadia Lake our residents know and love, and we are committed to keeping it that way.”

THANKS FOR READING = We provide Active Shooter & Workplace Violence Risk Assessments, as well as Advanced Workplace Violence Training & Drills, as well as CMS All-Hazards Security Risk Assessments, and Active Shooter Training. For more information, write: Caroline Ramsey-Hamilton at caroline@riskandsecurityllc.com

RISKAlert #2064-C York, Pennsylvania Feb. 28, 2025

EMPLOYEES WANT MORE SECURITY AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL. HERE ARE THE LATEST SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION!

Updated 3:00 PM EST, February 27, 2025, YORK, Pa.

UPMC Memorial Hospital is now taking patients again, following Saturday's shooting and hostage situation. On Wednesday, a UPMC spokesperson released a statement that reads: "As we at UPMC Memorial progress on our journey of healing following Saturday’s tragic event, we are grateful for the continuing recovery of our team members who were injured. We are grateful also for the outpouring of support, prayers, and words of comfort that we have received from so many individuals and organizations across our region and nation, including many other health systems. Across UPMC hospitals, our armed police officers and security teams are devoted to keeping us safe. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the safety and well-being of all at our facilities. UPMC Memorial’s Emergency Department is no longer on EMS divert and our ICU is open to care for patients, along with all other medical/surgical departments. Visitation remains limited to two visitors per patient."

Some employees have spoken out about what has changed already. UPMC physician assistant Lester Mendoza addressed the topic in a Facebook post, "Their commitment to supporting us during this difficult time is making a difference. Changes are already being implemented to ensure our safety today, so we can continue to focus on serving our community tomorrow."

One employee says following Saturday's events, the hospital is now requiring ID visitor badges, and bag checks upon entry. There was s sign at the main entrance front door stating that bags and belongings are subject to search! Employees say they also noticed more lighting inside the parking lot, and a new phone number for anyone to call if they do not feel safe walking alone. Employees say the hospital always has security patrolling, but since Saturday, they believe their presence has increased.

HOW TO IMPROVE SECURITY AT YOUR ORGANIZATION!

There are many additional steps that need to be taken, to ensure that tragedies like this do not happen again. Healthcare organizations that have been putting off stronger security measures can review my personal recommendations are continued on the other side!

After 40 years in Security Risk-Threat Assessment, I have to say at the outset that I was shocked when the details of this tragic incident started coming out. Primarily, I wondered
how a man carrying a bag of zip ties AND a weapon could get into the Intensive Care Unit!
The answer: No Security! Not only was there No Weapons Screening, there was no camera detection which could have easily been installed.

- Caroline Ramsey Hamilton


1. Conduct Professional Security Risk Assessment that impartially assesses the current
state of security to ensure that all potential threats are properly addressed and revisited
annually, including which of the many safeguards we consider for a healthcare
organization, but which are critical, and which in what order they should
be employed.

2. Having a Weapons Detection System is critical to safety and will prevent many of the mass
shootings we see occurring in healthcare settings. Weapons Detection Systems have
changed. They are no longer like the airport detection systems. Instead, you walk through
two poles and the computer picks up the presence of a weapon and alerts everyone,
including security, local law enforcement and the administration.

3. Mandatory Security Training should be REQUIRED for every employee from the CEO to the
receptionist. Trainings should include what to do when confronted by a shooter, and how to
be situationally aware so that you do not put yourself, or your patients, in danger.

4. Institute a Visitor Management System to ensure that everyone who enters the hospital is
not only identified by name, but also has a valid reason for entering an area. Staff should challenge those wearing badges. No one should be able to walk into any hospital
department without wearing a permanent or temporary badge.

5. Panic Alarms in every area, under counters and reception areas. Include both area alarms,
and individual panic alarms that staff can wear on their badges. Panic alarms are critical
because they can instantly alarm everyone in the organization, and automatically
inform law enforcement.

6. Research the use of newly available safeguards, like the new systems that will physically
stop a shooter, without causing injury, and restrain the shooter until Security or law
enforcement arrives.


This is a basic list for your consideration. Please send me a note to
caroline@riskandsecurityllc.com to get the entire list of healthcare safeguards
for hospitals, schools, and other critical organizations. Or to ask any questions.
Thank you to all healthcare professionals for all that they do.

A hospital nurse in Florida was seriously injured when a patient brutally attacked her, according to authorities. The patient, identified as 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, is now facing charges for attempted murder. The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office said the attack happened at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies were called to a patient room on the third floor of the hospital and found the nurse critically injured. Deputies said Scantlebury ran out of the hospital and into traffic. Video shows him running on the highway, shirtless, with what appears to be EKG leads still attached to his chest. Deputies were able to arrest Scantlebury, who is now undergoing medical clearance and faces one count of attempted murder.

The nurse was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach for treatment. According to an affidavit, “essentially every bone in the victim’s face is broken and the victim is likely to lose the use of both eyes.” Detectives are still investigating.

HCA Florida Healthcare said in a statement Tuesday night:

“Our primary concern is with our beloved colleague and we are praying for her recovery. We are also providing support to our hospital staff who are understandably shaken by this incident. The attack on our nursing colleague happened within a matter of seconds and was witnessed by multiple people who came to assist. We are grateful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office who acted to detain the suspect and we are assisting law enforcement in their investigation.”

THANKS FOR READING
We provide Active Shooter & Workplace Violence Risk Assessments, as well as Advanced Workplace Violence Training & Drills, as well as CMS All-Hazards Security Risk Assessments, AND Safety Inspections. and OSHA Training. For more information, write: Caroline Ramsey-Hamilton caroline@riskandsecurityllc.com, or
David A. Ward at dward@sbdcs.com. We provide the best Active Shooter & Workplace Violence Risk Assessments, as well as Advanced Workplace Violence Training & Drills.

40-year old ROBERT CARD started shooting at a bowling alley, and then went to a local bar. He then drove his car to a boat dock, and hasn’t been seen since.

He killed EIGHTEEN PEOPLE, and many others WERE HOSPITALIZED. Maine
is a state with an active gun culture, and always said they would never have an active shooter, because people in Maine knew how to control their guns.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NO LONGER TRUE. As they search this very large state, they are canvassing the local areas, they are checking electronic signals, they are interviewing his family and other people.

Card was hospitalized this past summer on a mental health hold, after threatening to shoot up his Army Reserve Base. So once again, we try to see how this could have been prevented. Because Maine has never had a major Active Shooter event, this may be a wake up call for residents.

Of course, there was no weapons detection in place at either the bowling alley, or the bar, where the majority of the casualties took place. The new weapons detection systems don’t require people to empty their pockets, or put down their bowling bag. But it would detect an assault rifle, and not give the shooter the ability to shoot and kill a large number of people just be pulling the trigger! (FYI: Assault rifles were used in most of the large casualty events BECAUSE they are automatic and makes killing so easy.

Family members who were interviewed in the past 24 hours said he had no major mental problems, but people who served with him said he heard voices, and said he wanted to kill some of the people who were in the Army Reserve with him. This is unfortunately also common, people think “IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE”, because it hasn’t happened in the past. BUT IT CAN HAPPEN HERE!

Despite the shock and dismay at the carnage of this incident, people will still think that mental health assistance should not be forced on anyone, or that people should have to buy guns from a licensed dealer, instead of a gun show, where would-be active shooters can avoid the background check, which would have showed he was hospitalized just this past summer.

Again, if people really believe it can’t happen here, they don’t need to have emergency preparations in place, don’t need to have training in case of an active shooter emergency, don’t need gun detection, or panic alarms, or any of the thirty plus controls that might stop the even in the first place, or at least limit the damage it does to a community!

How do I know? Because I live in Parkland, and had to tell my young grandchildren why their friends were shot and killed in school!

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