Dateline: April 21, 2014
Stabbing at Olive View – UCLA Medical Center
In the early morning hours of Easter Sunday morning, a nurse at Olive View-UCLA
Medical Center in Sylmar, California was critically hurt after being stabbed
multiple times.
Prior to the stabbing, deputies said the suspect had entered the hospital and
allegedly bypassed the weapons screening area. As the deputies searched
for the perpetrator, they heard a woman scream, and located the nurse, who was stabbed in both the upper
and lower torso. The nurse was transported for medical treatment in critical condition.
Torrance Hospital – Later at 9:20 am on Easter Sunday, Thomas Fredette walked
into Torrance Hospital, in the south Bay, and grabbed a nurse from behind and
stabbed her in the ear with a sharp object, according to Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s officials. Fredette faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon,
sheriff’s officials said. He is being held on $130,000 bail.
What We Learned:
Strong Access Controls at Hospital Entrances and Exits are the first line of
defense against injuries to hospital staff. Both events were random and
apparently unprovoked.
Nursing staff in particular, should receive adequate training in situational
awareness, which may be in conflict with their total focus on caring
for patients.
Double Check these critical Potential Controls:
Stronger Access Controls
Panic & Duress Alarms at Entry Points and on Nurses working late shifts
Better Weapons Screening