Where I work a "person with a weapon" is a code silver but no one would announce "Code Silver, man with a gun blah blah blah". That's just ridiculous, the whole point of the code system is to keep things low key so everybody doesn't freak out. You don't create your own problems by causing a stampede before anything else happens.
Not all hospitals use the same code systems. This particular incident was at a hospital that uses a color (real color, not a shade of grey).
And, contrary to security protocol, they
did announce the actual threat over the PA. However, it may have only been audible in certain parts of the hospital (main hallways and lobbies may have only heard the code).
Sorry about the delay in responding. I had an actual emergency arise in the family last night, and just returned from a different hospital.
I was hoping to clarify certain points as posters responded, but didn't have the time, with yesterday's emergency. So, I'll just give you the details.
The skinny:
On Wednesday, a man in camouflage clothing was seen walking in a field near a major road, about 1/2 mile from the University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had binoculars, a rifle, and a black bag.
When word got out, and people started seeing ghosts, there was a report of the man being seen in one of the hospital's parking garages (it's a huge medical complex that actually has 3 hospitals connected to each other).
Review of security footage showed that the "suspect" was never there. In fact, he had not been seen by any cameras or persons, after getting to the foothills of the mountains.
My wife works at the hospital, and was visiting an ICU after she was done for the day. That's when the first and second lock down occurred. The unit was under staffed for the day, so my wife volunteered to handle the phones and security calls that would have to be made, so the rest of the staff could attend to their patients. (She knew she was stuck there, and tried to make the best of it.)
During the lock down, a patient's visitor approached the guard assigned to the unit, and explained that he preferred not getting involved in anything, but had forgotten to remove his concealed weapon. He admitted the mistake and asked the guard what he should do. The guard allowed him to return to his seat, next to the patient (he had been there for a while and had no rifle or camouflage - and was obviously not the "armed gunman").
The buildings and surrounding area was swept, and the security condition cleared. Nothing else came of the incident.
To add insult to injury, after the missteps with security protocol...
It was pointed out to the hospital, that the University campus is one of the best places to park, for hunters entering the mountains above. And... the General Season Muzzle Loader Deer season had started that morning.
Even if the choice of parking places, and hiking paths was not prudent; the hunter did nothing illegal. Even if it wasn't a hunter, the person still wasn't illegal.
I'm still not sure what my actions would have been. I probably would have taken the "Denial" path - sit there, and pretend my weapon doesn't exist (it is concealed, after all). But it's a tough choice to make. Had the situation been real, you never know what would have happened.
. just the way we do it. only time I go insdie is because I have to to open each baby's acct(we do it anyways even though they'll end up having a virginia bank).