FARGO (KFGO) - More than 100 law officers and first responders were part of an intense, active shooter drill at Sanford's new medical center in Fargo Tues. morning. The exercise simulated a shooter inside the hospital with mass casualities.
Active shooter drills have been done before, at local schools and West Acres. But Deputy Police Chief Joe Anderson says using the new, one million square foot, multi-story hospital, is the largest training scenario yet. He says the exercise shows what needs to be improved and where there are limitations.
Sue Jarvis, Executive Director of Emergency Trauma and Critical Care at Sanford, says planning for the drill took a year. The only information armed law officers have when they go in is that there's an active shooter. Volunteers acted as the victims. Besides, police, ambulance and fire crews, there are "evaluators" scattered throughout the building and outside, keeping track of the response for review after the two hour long drill ended.
The nearly $500-million hospital will open in July.
