San Bernardino attack leaves hospital staff with raised awareness

Normal operations have resumed at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda.

But this has followed a week of crisis management following the San Bernardino terror attack and a couple of bomb threats at the hospital itself.

“I think everyone is just wearing a heavy heart,” said Briana Pastorino, Loma Linda Health spokeswoman.

Pastorino says Loma Linda students and staff were well prepared for just such a scenario because they train for such events four times a year, if not more often.

She admits, the events of this past week have made it all very real.

It’s no longer just an academic exercise, but something that can actually happen.

“I think this last week really put things into prospective for our students and employees that we really do need to be prepared,” Pastorino said. She continued, “and people are asking themselves, if not, what can we do to be prepared?”

Two bomb threats were phoned into the medical center, one the day of the terror attack while staff triaged those injured. A second threat was phoned in Tuesday.

Pastorino says their regular drills for earthquakes, fires, hazardous material situations and active shooters paid off.

“It is the one way we are actually able to practice our protocols and really prepare for emergencies,” Pastorino said.

Now, staff and students– even hospital visitors are being urged to stay alert and are encouraged to report anything they see that’s suspicious to security or law enforcement.