“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” —Bob Proctor

Depression is cruel and wicked for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its ability to rob me of precious self-worth. There have been many days in my life in which I have been convinced not only am I weak, stupid, ugly and pitiful, but I have absolutely nothing of value to offer anyone else.

On depression’s best days and my worst, the monster is invasive, overwhelming, and fully evil. He pursues me with dogged persistence; running me down from behind, tackling me, and pushing my face deep into the mud of despair as he runs over me, laughing while he does.

Depression is like a rogue animal, an untamed beast that is both all bark and all bite. And, having been assaulted by it more times than I care to recall, I now appreciate why Winston Churchill referred to his depression as, “The Black Dog.”

This animal sinks his teeth deep into me and thrashes me about like a rag doll. The more I try to pry myself free, the harder he clamps down. Held firm in the jowls of the beast, in time I relent, and he carries me off to dine on my soul, never fully completing the task and instead of leaving me just alive enough to feel deep pain.

But today was different. This morning, someone I hold in the highest esteem, a man who continues to mentor, influence, and guide me, asked for my opinion.

Article author David Woods Bartley will be presenting "The Why of Suicide and the How of Hope" at this summer's Campus Safety Conference taking place July 8-10 in Atlanta. Register now at CampusSafetyConference.com.

“David, what would you do?” he asked me.

In truth, he sought my counsel, something I didn’t know I had to give.

My mentor was giving an important talk and wanted my guidance on how he should speak about a particular issue. He fretted his words would fall short, and while he intended to offer help, he feared he might do harm instead.

And he asked me what he should do.

Me.

I froze for a moment before I responded, awestruck by the gift of such a request, but then, I did speak. What came out surprised me since it wasn’t hesitant and jumbled. Rather, it was concise, direct, and insightful. So much so that I felt as if the words were spoken by some other person.

Was this thoughtful advice coming from some passerby who overheard the request and responded before I could?  In a way, this was the truth since the words I voiced came from a part of me I had long forgotten even existed.

When I finished, this man I love and admire paused, considered what I had said, and then thanked me. He said I had made a difference. He told me I was a huge help and had given him sound and much-needed input. He added that my words had eased his mind and calmed his worry.

Battle Employee and Student Depression by Asking for Their Input

It’s hard to put into words what this simple encounter means to me. I cannot convey how much this short exchange has impacted me, of how my depleted self suddenly became full.

For too many years, depression has made my soul its kennel, and time after time has taken me to the woodshed of self-hatred to be mauled and torn apart. But just when depression was again convincing me I was worthless, and I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck, Life said something different. Today, Life told me I was worthy.

And, what’s even more surprising is today I discovered a silver lining from all these beatings; I now believe my longstanding experience of worthlessness allows me to appreciate the contrasting light of self-worth that much more, maybe even more so than an “average” person.

In the words of Kahlil Gibran, “Nor is it a thought I leave behind me, but a heart made sweet with hunger and with thirst.”

Could I know self-worth without the experience of worthlessness? I’m not sure. But what I do know is this; today, for a precious moment, “The Black Dog” let go.

David Woods Bartley is two-time TEDx speaker, international mental health presenter and subject matter expert on suicide.

The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety magazine. 

The post Addressing Depression: This Simple Action by Mentors Can Boost Employee and Student Self-Confidence appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

The 2024 Campus Safety Conference, taking place July 8-10 in Atlanta, will unite safety and security leaders for K-12, higher education, and healthcare campuses to focus on intensive education, hands-on training, peer-to-peer networking, and product showcases over two-and-a-half days.

Now in its 11th year, CSC allows attendees to meet face-to-face with their peers and share lessons learned and promising practices. Our events are collaborative, innovative, and peer-driven, and offer resources and training needed to increase preparedness, communication, and response before, during, and after a variety of safety and security incidents.

Below is an aggregate page for all things CSC24, making a seamless experience for all attendees from pre-show to post-show. We will constantly update this page as more information becomes available!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS AND LINKS:

• June 21: Discounted hotel rate ends! Book your hotel now.
• June 21: Summer Break discount pricing ends. Register now!
• UNLV Leadership to Deliver CSC 2024 Keynote: ‘Anatomy of an Active Shooter Event on a College Campus’
• View the 2024 Campus Safety Conference Agenda
• What’s New at Campus Safety Conference 2024?

May 29, 2024

How to Create Reunification Plans for K-12 Schools

Kelly Martin, Lieutenant/Deputy Director of School Safety at Seminole County Public Schools, will present on the topic.

One critical component of a K-12 emergency response plan is reunification. Reuniting K-12 students with their loved ones following a campus emergency is an extremely complex task and, if not done properly, can have a lasting traumatic impact on students, staff, and parents.

At the national Campus Safety Conference, Kelly Martin, deputy director of school safety for Seminole County Public Schools and lieutenant for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, will present on the development and implementation of robust reunification plans.

This session will underscore the critical importance of reunification plans in the broader framework of emergency preparedness and response. By exploring real-world incidents and emergencies, attendees will gain valuable insights into the significance of having comprehensive and well-thought-out strategies in place to facilitate the safe and efficient reunification of students with their families during crisis situations.

Read more about the session here.

May 7, 2024

Lessons Learned from Nationwide Protests to Be Covered at Campus Safety Conference

The GroupProjects general session puts all CSC attendees in one room to openly discuss safety and security topics impacting educational institutions.

Dozens of college campuses have experienced pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations, many of which have resulted in violence and arrests. Some campus leaders have received significant criticism for how the unrest was handled while others have been praised.

No matter the circumstances, lessons learned from the response and recovery can and should be carried over into the next school year, and campus leaders can learn even more by discussing their experiences with others in similar roles.

To orchestrate these discussions, in place of a traditional keynote, the 2024 Campus Safety Conference will kick off on July 8 with the general session, “GroupProjects Live: Lessons Learned from Recent Campus Protests.” Since the current unrest is extremely challenging to navigate and will likely continue into the 2024-2025 academic year, this year’s GroupProjects will solely cover protest successes and challenges.

Attendees will collaborate in small groups and share lessons they’ve learned, struggles they’ve experienced, and strategies they’ve used to maintain safety and security while protecting First Amendment rights when demonstrations and controversial speakers come on campus.

Read more about the session here.

April 25, 2024

Campus Safety Conference at EDspaces Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for Campus Safety Conference (CSC) at EDspaces, happening November 12-14, 2024, in Houston, Texas, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Now in its third year, this co-located event offers the content Campus Safety Conference attendees have come to expect and love and free access to EDspaces sessions. It opens the door to more resources for school and college administrators, campus security executives, law enforcement, and emergency management professionals by providing new insights into architects and distributors in the education design market.

CSC attendees will have the chance to walk the EDspaces show floor which will feature manufacturers and distributors that demonstrate how the physical learning environment can meet the pedagogical needs and technology demands to support an educational institution’s mission of student success and well-being.

Pricing increases on June 4. Register today to get the best available price!

April 12, 2024

Campus Safety Conference to Cover Clery Compliance

Photo: mehaniq41 – stock.adobe.com

At the 2024 Campus Safety Conference, Jenn Scott and Kyle Norton with the Healy+ Group will discuss changes in the Education Department’s Clery finding rubric and what that means for campuses in real dollars. They will also discuss pending changes to both the Clery Act and Title IX regulations, including the addition of hazing as a Clery Act crime that schools will be responsible for reporting on.

The session will address several areas of institutional risk, including emergency response policies and procedures and best practices for sending timely warnings and emergency notifications to your campus. Learn more about the session here.

Check out this new interview where Scott and Norton discuss why Clery fines have gotten so massive and how to improve compliance.

April 1, 2024

UNLV Leadership to Deliver CSC 2024 Keynote

Photo courtesy UNLV

At this summer’s Campus Safety Conference (CSC), leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Police Services and the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) will present the keynote, titled “Anatomy of an Active Shooter Event on a College Campus.”

In this panel-style presentation, all five UNLV and NSHE executives will discuss the timeline of events of their December 6 active shooter ordeal, lessons learned, emergency management protocols, and the teamwork and coordination of staff, leaders, and government that was required as the event unfolded.

Read more about the session and its participants.

March 19, 2024

Campus Safety Conference Adds Georgia Tech Tour to 2024 Agenda

Campus Safety announces another new addition to this year’s programming — a tour of the prestigious Georgia Tech campus and its police department!

Georgia Tech currently consists of 400+ acres and 200+ academic, residential, and recreational buildings. With more than 36,000 students and nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, the campus attracts people from all over the world and can exceed 50,000 people on any given day.

Chief Robert Connolly and his team will give a tour of the campus, focusing on access control, traffic flow, how technology keeps the campus running, and more areas that keep Georgia Tech secure.

This tour has limited availability and will fill up fast. Secure your spot at registration!

March 7, 2024

The 2024 Campus Safety Conference Agenda is Here!

Campus Safety is thrilled to announce the agenda for our summer Campus Safety Conference is now live!

CSC strives to collaborate with presenters who have varying backgrounds and experiences and therefore offer different personal and professional perspectives. Speakers at CSC include a security director, a chief operating officer, a grant writing associate, a Title IX coordinator, a retired commander, a current police chief, a compliance director, an assistant superintendent, a public safety director, a business continuity analyst, and more.

Sessions topics will include, among others: 

• Effective Reunification Plans for K-12 Campuses
• Expand Your Funding Streams: Why You Should Apply for Security Grants
• The Intersection of Campus and Municipal Policing
• Selling Safety: Successful Strategies for Securing Funding of Your Safety Initiatives
• Alternative Response Units Within Institutions of Higher Education
• $37 Thousand or $37 Million? The New Cost of Violating the Clery Act
• Boosting Community Engagement
• Armed Staff: Security Enhancement or Liability?
• Navigating the Challenges of Free Speech on Campus
• Redesigning the Tabletop Exercise Scenario Setup
• Leveraging School Cameras and No-Cost Software to Produce Training Triumphs
• How Stress Impacts Our Behaviors

Check out the full 2024 CSC agenda.

February 21, 2024

Announcing the 2024 Campus Safety Director of the Year K-12 Finalists

Campus Safety is pleased to announce the 2024 K-12 school/district Director of the Year finalists. Being named a finalist is no easy feat. Check out the finalists’ profiles to get a glimpse of some of their accomplishments.

Winners of this year’s Director of the Year awards will be announced at the 2024 Campus Safety Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, taking place July 8-10. To register, visit CampusSafetyConference.com.

• Loubert Alexis, Director – OCPS Office of Emergency Management, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida: View his profile, photos, and achievements.
• Joseph Hough, Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services and School Safety, Buncombe County Public Schools, Asheville, North Carolina: View his profile, photos, and achievements.
• Ian Lopez, Director of Safety and Security, Cherry Creek School District, Greenwood Village, Colorado: View his profile, photos, and achievements. 
• Kelli Lotito, Safety Director, Regis Jesuit High School, Aurora, Colorado: View her profile, photos, and achievements.
• Byron McCray, Director of School Safety, Chief Emergency Management Officer, Brentwood Union Free School District, Bay Shore, New York: View his profile, photos, and achievements.
• Rich Payne, Safety Director, Academy District 20 (ASD20), Colorado Springs, Colorado: View his profile, photos, and achievements.
• Aaron Skrbin, Director of Safety and Security, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Homestead, Pennsylvania: View his profile, photos, and achievements.
• Levaughn Smart, Executive Director of Security and Disaster Preparedness, Palm Springs Unified School District, Palm Springs, California: View his profile, photos, and achievements.
• Brendan Sullivan, Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Management, Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, Colorado: View his profile, photos, and achievements. 
• Donald Webster, Chief of Campus Safety, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo, Michigan: View his profile, photos, and achievements.

View more Director of the Year content.

February 20, 2024

What’s New at Campus Safety Conference 2024?

Image via Adobe, by Brad Pict

Out with the old and in with the new! This summer’s Campus Safety Conference (CSC24), taking place in Atlanta July 8-10, is changing things up to provide you with even better peer-to-peer learning opportunities and solutions to your school and college public safety, security, emergency management, facilities management, and technology challenges.

New at CSC:

• Scholars Program: Designed for K-12 and higher education safety, security, emergency management, facilities management, and technology leaders who are actively sourcing products and solutions to improve the protection of their campuses
• Group Projects and Workshops: Past CSC attendees have requested more hands-on learning and we listened. At CSC24, we will host our third annual GroupProjects LIVE! session and multiple workshops.
• Product Demonstrations: Are you looking for products or solutions to make your school or university safer? CSC24 will hold dedicated time for select sponsors to demonstrate their products so you can see them in action.

Read more.

February 19, 2024

Announcing the 2024 Campus Safety Director of the Year Higher Education and Healthcare Finalists

Campus Safety is pleased to announce the 2024 higher education and healthcare Director of the Year finalists. Check out the finalists’ profiles and photos to see some of their impressive accomplishments.

Winners of this year’s Director of the Year awards will be announced at the 2024 Campus Safety Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, taking place July 8-10. To register, visit CampusSafetyConference.com.

• William Adcox, Vice President, Chief of Police, and Chief Security Officer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• Christopher Buckley, Director of Campus Safety, Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• Jerry Connolly, Chief of Police, Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers, Florida: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• Ethan Johnson, Chief of Police, Coastal Pines Technical College, Waycross, Georgia: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• Thomas Leone, Assistant Vice President of Public Safety/Chief of Police, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• John Marcus, Director of Emergency Management, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• Mark Reed, Director of Campus Support Operations, City of Hope, Duarte, California: View his profile, achievements, and photos.
• Linda Stump-Kurnick, Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida: View her profile, achievements, and photos.

View more Director of the Year content.

February 12, 2024

2024 Campus Safety Conference Registration Is Now Open!

For more information on the 2024 Campus Safety Conference, visit CampusSafetyConference.com.

Registration is now open for the 2024 Campus Safety Conference (CSC) being held July 8-10 in Atlanta!

The theme for the 2024 Campus Safety Conferences is “Strong Connections, Safer Campuses.” By sharing experiences and leading practices, we are stronger as a campus, community, and world.

CSC 2024 has many new, exciting features, including:

• Scholarship program for guests sourcing new products and solutions
• More hands-on training with additional workshop time blocks
• Relationship-based sponsorship opportunities for added return on investment (ROI)
• Four consecutive breakouts to maximize your time onsite
• Off-hours receptions to enhance your networking experiences

Read more and register by March 29 to get our spring rate!

January 08, 2024

Campus Safety Conference Announces 2024 Dates and Opens Call for Speakers

Image via Adobe, by dizain

In 2023, our events brought together representatives from 40 states and four countries in two summer events and one fall event. As we look towards the next 10 years of CSC, we hope to be a national resource of education, peer relationship building, and connectivity. To align with this mission, we will be hosting one summer event and one fall event for 2024.

CSC allows attendees to meet face-to-face with their peers and share lessons learned and promising practices. Our events are collaborative, innovative, and peer-driven, and offer resources and training needed to increase preparedness, communication, and response before, during, and after a variety of safety and security incidents.

The theme for the 2024 Campus Safety Conferences is “Strong Connections, Safer Campuses.” By sharing experiences and leading practices, we are stronger as a campus, community, and world.

Learn more about the event here.

November 16, 2023

Highlights from the 2023 Campus Safety Conference at EDspaces

Alan Walters, executive director of safety and risk management for the Georgetown County School District, discussed and reviewed actual cases where Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) has helped or hindered physical security.

During a session at last week’s Campus Safety Conference at EDspaces, held Nov. 7-9 at the Charlotte Convention Center, a presenter emphasized the importance of recognizing blind spots within an educational institution.

“I’m so used to seeing the campus and everything in it that I don’t think about what can hurt a child,” said Navigate360’s John White.

White’s statement highlights just one of the many reasons the co-located Campus Safety Conference and EDspaces work well together. School leaders must consider all aspects of student well-being, from whether an unwanted visitor can gain unfettered access to a school to whether equity-driven processes are followed in classroom design.

At this year’s event, CSC attendees had access to emergency prevention, response, and recovery sessions they have come to expect plus free access to all EDspaces sessions. These sessions offered insights into how the physical learning environment can meet the pedagogical needs and technology demands to support an educational institution’s mission of student success and well-being. EDspaces attendees were also welcome to attend any and all CSC sessions — and many did!

Read more about the event.

The post 2024 Campus Safety Conference Resource Center appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Across the country, creating safe and secure learning environments is paramount for colleges and universities. It’s important to remember that safety is not just about crime statistics. It is the perception of feeling safe. On college and university campuses, campus police and security have the duty to provide that safety. Everyday interactions, how law enforcement speaks to community members during “routine” interactions, is where trust is built.

The news and social media are over-flowing with examples of law enforcement officers involved in uses of force and sensational encounters. While these are all too often a part of the job, they are not the only way law enforcement is judged. Most people understand that force occurs within some encounters, and law enforcement is often applauded for their restraint and de-escalation during crisis incidents.

But what about the vast majority of law enforcements’ contacts with their communities? Most interactions and calls for service are not a crisis call and not escalated. These are the day-to-day contacts where the community observes and learns what their law enforcement officers really think. Non-crisis encounters, also known as pre-escalation, involve interactions during other police activities, which are the vast majority of law enforcement’s encounters with their community. Traffic stops, domestic disturbances, calls for past crimes such as burglary, larceny, and vandalism, as well as the frequent incidental contacts in public settings such as restaurants and convenience stores are where most interactions occur.

Officers Need Strong, Effective Communication Skills

“Have you ever had an encounter with law enforcement before being sworn? Or after being sworn and your identity wasn’t known to the officer?”

These questions were posed to a group of chiefs and sheriffs. Sadly, the large majority indicated they did not like how they were treated by the officer during the encounter, and some were still angry years later.

A recent review of police accountability board reports paints a concerning picture that is in line with the chief’s and sheriffs’ reactions. The reports revealed that a significant number of citizen complaints center not on a use of force or false arrest, but around discourtesy, language, and how people felt they were treated during their interactions. This issue was further brought to light by a 2023 study from Virginia Tech. The study reinforces this concern, highlighting that an officer’s initial approach and language set the tone for the entire encounter. Sadly, many of the highly publicized negative law enforcement encounters actually started with the officer escalating the situation unintentionally.

This underscores the critical need for campus officers to possess strong communication skills to navigate situations constructively and respectfully.

Traditionally, law enforcement training focuses on tactics, firearms, and de-escalation. However, a gap exists in pre-escalation approaches. Programs like “Socially Smart Officer” are stepping in to fill this void, aiming to rebuild trust between campus law enforcement and the students and staff they serve.

CSC 2024 to Offer Training on Improving Officer Interactions

At this summer’s Campus Safety Conference, taking place July 8-10 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park in Atlanta, Ga., Dave Minionis, a leadership and organizational effectiveness consultant with a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Dan Dusseau, a retired chief of police with more than three decades of experience in both municipal and campus law enforcement, will present “The Socially Smart Officer Breakthrough,” which is an interactive platform where police officers can hone essential skills, including:

• Self-Awareness: Recognizing personal biases and emotional triggers to ensure clear judgment.
• Balanced Communication: Emphasizing respect, awareness, and effective communication in all interactions.
• Empathy and Trust Building: Cultivating understanding and fostering trust-based relationships with students, faculty, and staff.
• Situational Adaptability: Equipping officers to respond effectively to diverse situations and individuals on campus while maintaining composure.
• Building a Safe and Inclusive Campus Community

Ensuring a safe and inclusive campus environment requires more than just technical skills. Everyday interactions, both routine and high-pressure, are crucial in building trust and fostering a sense of security among students, faculty, and staff. Proficiency in driving and marksmanship, while important, is no longer enough. The “Socially Smart Officer” program tackles this challenge by nurturing skills that promote community trust and cooperation, within the unique environment of a college campus.

Registration is now open for the 2024 Campus Safety Conference, taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, July 8-10.

CLICK HERE for more information and to register, or visit CampusSafetyConference.com.

Words Can Have More Power Than a Gun

Many campus law enforcement agencies lack training in interpersonal skills for their officers. Arguably, an officer’s words can be a more powerful tool for community building than any firearm. Poor communication creates tension and undermines a sense of safety on campus, regardless of an officer’s technical skills. Pre-escalation training, which focuses on communication and techniques before a situation reaches a critical point, is vital for building trust and safety within the campus community.

To foster positive interactions and promote a safe learning environment, campus officers need to practice crucial verbal and non-verbal communication techniques. College and university administrations must prioritize training their law enforcement staff to be “Socially Smart Officers.” Balanced communication is essential for officer safety, effectiveness, and, most importantly, building trust and a sense of security within the campus community.

Understanding Citizen Perceptions is Key

Since safety is a feeling, a core component of effective communication for campus safety officers is understanding what is really being said and seen. By honing their ability to interpret verbal and nonverbal cues, officers can tailor their responses to address the underlying concerns that contribute to feelings of insecurity. This not only improves communication but also fosters a more positive perception of campus safety among students, faculty, and staff. Ultimately, this leads to a stronger sense of trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the campus community.

The “Socially Smart Officer” program equips officers with the skills they need to bridge this gap. Through interactive learning, participants develop skills in three core areas:

1. Attitude: Maintaining a professional and respectful demeanor.
2. Awareness: Reading situations and people accurately, with a heightened sensitivity to the specific dynamics of a campus environment.
3. Ability: Employing effective communication techniques verbally and non-verbally, fostering a sense of safety and inclusion.

By mastering these elements, campus officers unlock their potential to be effective communicators and bridge the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The “Socially Smart Officer” program offers a path towards a future of trust, cooperation, and a safer learning environment for all.

The post How a Law Enforcement Officer’s Communication Skills Can Build Trust and Safety on Campuses appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

Editor’s Note: This article originally ran in CS sister publication Security Sales and Integration. Although the article is intended for security systems integrators, the information is also valuable for school, university and hospital security, public safety and emergency management practitioners. 

Engaging your customers and taking action to solve their pain points and various challenges is an essential step to customer success. With the intention of better serving end users, you need to know as much as possible about them. Including what they most need from you.

In that spirit, SSI delivers the second annual Commercial Security End-User Forum, where we tap the perspectives of four security directors as well as an expert in corporate security risk mitigation solutions.

Hailing from the K-12, higher education, healthcare and entertainment industries, the participants weigh in on organizational safety and security challenges, what makes for a successful integrator partnership, COVID-19 impacts and more. 

Vetting Security Systems Integrators

Ask an end user for their thoughts on how they go about selecting the right integrator partner and the responses might seem analogous to choosing a significant other. Finding just the right match boils down to aligning various compatibilities and attributes that ensure the relationship is built to last. Trust. Honesty. Commitment. These are not just slogans but bedrock elements to a fulfilling, successful business alliance.

“One of the reasons I believe that I’ve been successful in my career as a security director is having great relationships with integrators in a good, constructive way where we learn from each other,” says Guy Grace, who retired from Littleton (Colorado) Public Schools in August after more than 30 years and now works as a security consultant for K-12 schools in Wyoming.

Grace, a 2020 Director of the Year recipient awarded by SSI sister publication Campus Safety, emphasizes patience and the ability to evolve with an end user as necessary virtues, especially in the business of campus security. Money is tight for most school districts and significant expenditures may only come around every five to 10 years as bond measures are approved or other funding is appropriated.

“You need an integrator that is going to help you to constantly evolve, but you have to evolve based on, No. 1, financial resources. But you also need to be able to evolve based on the school district’s culture and what they want from you based on processes and procedures and things that you have to do before you implement these things.”

Scrutinizing an integrator’s core competencies is, of course, a key exercise for end users. CoxHealth System Director of Public Safety Eric Clay explains the level of qualifications of a potential integrator partner is often an unknown quantity. Before he commits to an integrator, Clay works to raise his comfort level by verifying their experience on projects with a similar scope. This necessarily includes a demonstrated ability to cyber-secure healthcare networks, which are a favorite target of criminal hackers.

“What I am hoping is they have a deep understanding, and as I talk with them I might have a vision for a solution. I’m also hoping they’re going to draw out information that perhaps I hadn’t even thought about,” says Clay, also a 2020 Director of the Year recipient. “They may ask, ‘Have you considered this? What is your long-term goal? You’re looking for an immediate solution, but you might be able to integrate this particular solution that will address these other issues.’” (Update: since contacted for this article, Clay now serves as vice president of security at Memorial Hermann, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas.)

Robert Carotenuto is director of security at The Shed, a new $475 million, 200,000-square-foot cultural arts center located in New York City’s Hudson Yards. As a nonprofit facility, Carotenuto looks for integrators who are willing to create a symbiotic collaboration based on the venue’s best interests. Sure, it’s a monetary relationship as well, but that should be secondary to the partnership, explains Carotenuto, an ASIS Professional Standards Board member.

“For me, it’s not about getting the very best product out there, but that I get the very best product out there for my institution. If I have top-of-the-line equipment that’s going to cost me a lot of overhead over the years, it’s hard for me to sustain that in terms of my budget,” he says. “Maybe that’s the best solution for a Fortune 500 company, but I don’t need their solution. I need a solution that fits The Shed.”

Top Safety and Security Challenges

Large end users may have generally similar safety and security missions in protecting buildings and occupants, but there can also be perils unique to the size and scope of any given facility and the nature of its purpose. A sobering example, the healthcare industry.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), serious workplace violence incidents are four times more likely to occur in healthcare environments than in private industry. In fact, healthcare accounts for nearly as many serious violent injuries as all other industries combined. Healthcare professionals in certain sectors of the industry are even more vulnerable to workplace violence than law enforcement officers and security guards, according to OSHA.

“Workplace violence is probably the thing that we work to address more than anything else,” says Clay. “We rely on a number of technologies to help protect our staffs.”

CoxHealth is a six-hospital, 1,050 bed not-for-profit healthcare system headquartered in Springfield, Mo. Clay’s security operations manage more than 900 security cameras across the facilities, plus robust visitor management and analytical software to ensure resources are deployed efficiently. Security personnel are equipped with body-worn cameras, handheld metal detectors and more.

“Portable duress alarms are a big thing for us right now. We’re testing those alarms in some of our more high-risk areas, such as emergency rooms and psych units, which allow us to triangulate exactly where someone is in the space and respond directly to that location,” Clay explains.

As with many commercial and public venues, Carotenuto contends with the challenge of deploying security and life-safety technologies while maintaining a sense of openness and welcoming aesthetics. Cultural institutions, he says, should maintain spaces where people can feel free to express themselves, unencumbered by intrusive electronics or personnel.

“People are understanding that there is technology, including video surveillance and screening. But that is to keep everybody safe. The challenge is to be present, but sort of in the background so we can keep that open environment,” he says. “The Shed is not about security, it’s about artwork and performances and that always must shine through. The security has to become an afterthought for visitors and even sometimes for the staff.”

In his years as a school safety professional, Grace says the biggest challenges have always centered around the balancing act between good technology and emergency preparedness. You can also add to that mental health processes and procedures that school districts have implemented in more recent time.

“So the major challenge was bringing in programs that holistically work together, and work together in a multihazard facet,” he says. “[In the context of] school safety, if you put one bad apple in the cart — one bad piece of technology or one bad mental health practice or one bad emergency preparedness practice — it could upset the holistic processes of school safety.”

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for any school district in the United States, thereby complicating the balancing act, Grace adds. One common goal that must be established, he believes, is to avoid turning schools into prison-like environments in a pursuit to deploy all-encompassing security and emergency preparedness measures.

“Security can be very complicated, but it can also be in the background. And I think that that’s very important in K-12,” he says. “It is very important for us to work together with our integrators and for all sides to be open minded. And that’s not just our integrators, but our school district, our community and our manufacturers.”

Security in the Age of COVID-19

You would be hard pressed to conjure a more impactful event to have instantaneously altered workplace and campus environments than the coronavirus pandemic. As the new normal continues to form in the months ahead and beyond, end users — with assistance from reseller partners — are hastily trialing thermal skin temperature cameras, frictionless access control, among other tech-based COVID-19 mitigations.

Yet some end users are taking a pass on these tools and relying on other mitigations. The University of Florida is scheduled to welcome students back to the campus in Gainesville for the fall semester beginning Aug. 31. Joseph Souza, director of security at the University of Florida, explains the decision was made not to deploy additional technologies as part of the campus’s COVID-19 reopening plan. Thermal temperature detection was considered and evaluated; however, the devices were deemed cost prohibitive due the quantity needed. It’s also a new technology that isn’t fully proven to its successfulness, Souza says.

“UF has done a great job as a university bringing our emergency operations team together to address all aspects of COVID-19 response. We also have a comprehensive screen, test and protect program which all staff, faculty and students are going through as they have returned to campus,” he says.

That doesn’t mean the university won’t be leveraging technology as part of its coronavirus response. Existing electronic security systems are being called into action.

“We will have more use of line crossing-people counting to limit the number of occupants in buildings. Also, robust access control reports will track unique accesses, time of access to help look for unauthorized activity or to tailor cleaning activities based on pedestrian traffic,” he says.

Souza adds, “In a university setting, public safety is paramount. It’s a little more challenging to keep an open campus secure, so we rely more on technology to augment and enhance security, like during the COVID-19 crisis.”

The pandemic has created a corporate imperative to reimagine risk and security, as well as strengthen collaboration across the business, explains Bob Hayes, managing director of the Security Executive Council, a research and advisory firm that specializes in corporate security risk mitigation solutions. What worked pre-COVID — or what may have been in planning and design stages — is irrelevant in a post-COVID word, he says.

“People ask, ‘Why do I have to reimagine it?’ Because all your conditions just changed. Your culture changed. Your circumstances have changed. You absolutely have to rethink what you are doing and why,” Hayes stresses. “If you had a physical security installation at a big headquarters getting ready to go in, I would say put it on hold. Too much has changed. That project might not be relevant in three months.”

To Hayes’s point: Consider a facility that was forced to permanently close 50% of its offices following the lockdown; managers are now going to have very different risks and issues than they did prior to the closures. Moving forward a seamless alignment between security practitioners and security vendors will be imperative in the new normal, he says.

“At the end of the day you have got to go back and you start with a new reality assessment. What is the new normal going to look like? Define the risks and the desired outcomes,” Hayes advises. “Combine that with research and look at the collective knowledge and examine and align for unified risks, and make sure that you are in line with your executives and their sponsorship and everybody understands what you are doing.”

Rodney Bosch is Security Sales & Integration’s senior editor. This article was originally published in 2020 and still is applicable today.

The post How to Get What You Need from Your Security Systems Integrator appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

BOSTON – Doctors and nurses who work in hospitals often experience sleep deprivation, and when they do, dangerous or even deadly situations can occur.

Case in point: In the early morning of May 17, an exhausted, on-call nurse who works at Faulkner Hospital accidentally drove her car off the top floor of the medical facility’s parking garage.

The nurse fell asleep after putting her vehicle in reverse, reports Boston 25 News. Police officials said she hit the gas pedal rather than the brake, causing her car to go off the garage’s top floor head-first. She landed on a shed and then into some bushes. It’s unclear if she was injured as a result of the accident.

The nurse told authorities she had finished working her shift at Faulkner Hospital but was on call starting at 11 p.m. Instead of driving home, she chose to sleep in her car. She decided to move her car away from the lights, and that’s when the accident happened.

According to a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Nurses Association, nurses often have vehicle accidents when they are driving home because they are exhausted due to working long shifts and compulsory overtime. It’s unclear if this was the issue with this accident.

Studies have also found that fatigue can lead to illness, dissatisfaction with their jobs, and mental health issues. It can also negatively affect patient health due to nurses making mistakes because they are exhausted.

Humans require about eight hours of sound sleep to perform at their best. Most people in law enforcement and related emergency services professions, however, obtain an average of only 6 1/2 hours of rest, according to Night Shift Survival. Additionally, being awake at work for 17 hours produces the fatigue-level performance equivalent to a blood alcohol level of .05, and 24 hours without sleep can produce the equivalence of .10 — legal intoxication in all states.

The post Exhausted Nurse Drives Off Top Floor of Massachusetts Hospital Garage appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A husband and wife are dead in an apparent murder-suicide incident at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

Newport News Police received a call around 8:20 a.m. Sunday for a shooting inside the hospital, The Virginian-Pilot reports. Chief Steve Drew told WTKR that responding officers found a man and a woman, who were both in their 70s, suffering from gunshot wounds inside a hospital room on the fourth floor. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said it appears the man, who was a patient at the hospital, was shot by the woman before she turned the gun on herself. No one else was injured.

“You never know what’s in someone’s mind,” Drew said. “My hope is when they do the search that there is some information, something in written form or maybe some statements made to family members, that can help us a little bit determine why. I can tell you that everything we know at this point is there is no active anger or violence toward staff or anyone else.”

Drew commended the hospital staff for their response, noting they quickly placed the hospital in lockdown and alerted authorities while continuing to provide patient care.

“My prayers go out to those that responded — uniformed or ununiformed, those who were on-duty and off-duty,” he said. “I couldn’t be more impressed with the communication, relationship, the partnership, working together.”

When asked about how a gun was brought into the hospital, WAVY reports Drew stated, “That will be a conversation for another time.”

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can text TALK to 741741 or initiate an online chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/. You can also call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Additional resources can also be found at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

The post Newport News: 2 Dead in Murder-Suicide at Riverside Regional Medical Center appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

Many organizations are rightly concerned about the threat of violent intruders, but environmental hazards can be just as dangerous, disruptive and costly, especially when they are overlooked.

Part of that issue stems from a lack of resources. Organizations only have so many people and sets of eyeballs to monitor hazards. With many organizations being primarily worried about weapons, fights, and other direct threats, indirect perils may go unnoticed.

While many organizations have video surveillance throughout their facilities and grounds, few have the requisite staffing to monitor every feed in real time. This often results in video footage being useful only after an incident has taken place as people look for answers as to how events unfolded.

Organizations can use this information to make changes for the future, but it doesn’t help address issues in real-time as they arise.

Campuses can adopt a platform that improves the critical workflows of existing surveillance systems by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) threat detection software with mass notification and incident management solutions.

AI Video Surveillance Is Emerging

Recent advancements in AI video surveillance have made it possible for organizations to actively monitor for any hazard, be it environmental or otherwise. Software can overlay with existing video camera feeds, meaning organizations can take advantage of threat detection capabilities without needing to rip and replace hardware that’s already in place.

This can provide organizations with the ability to detect spilled liquids, smoke, and weather-related hazards like water and snow the moment they appear within a camera’s view. AI threat detection can also identify people in restricted areas or buildings after hours who may be deliberately trying to create an environmental hazard or maybe in an area where an environmental hazard is more likely to occur.

This enables security and facilities personnel to intervene quickly, mitigating the potential negative impact of the detected threat.

However, while AI video surveillance is a powerful security tool, its notification capabilities can be limited, often only being able to send text and email alerts, both of which can be easy for recipients to ignore.

Organizations may need more extensive alerting capabilities, so they should look for AI video surveillance that is compatible with mass notification systems that can extend the message reach and help manage whatever incident has been detected.

Mass Notification Can Bolster AI Video’s Alerts

Mass notification systems offer robust alerting capabilities that can be more intrusive and wide-reaching than AI video surveillance on its own. Messages can be delivered as text, audio, and visual alerts to a wide range of integrated devices, including desk phones, mobile phones, desktop computers, digital signage, and overhead speakers simultaneously.

These alerts can be customized with prewritten text that corresponds with specific hazards, and include an image taken from the camera to show what the hazard looks like. Recipients can then verify an issue has presented itself and respond.

Messages can also be targeted to specific groups and areas in a building. Environmental hazards can be directed at specific facility maintenance personnel who can investigate and deal with the issue. Or, notifications can be restricted to alert specific areas, like the floor or wing of a building, minimizing disruptions while still getting information out to those who need to know.

This helps ensure the right people get the right message as quickly as possible so they can begin to act.

Environmental hazard detection can extend beyond video surveillance though. Mass notification systems can also integrate with environmental sensors, which can provide an additional layer of detection to stay ahead of potential issues.

Sensors can be particularly useful in areas with low camera visibility. Air quality sensors, water sensors, and more can connect with certain mass notification systems to initiate alerts when certain criteria are met.

Manufacturers can use this to understand when volatile chemicals are present so they can evacuate an area, and businesses can use this to understand when data centers might be under threat from leaking water.

Being able to detect environmental hazards helps organizations keep their people safe, and it helps protect business continuity, so operations continue to run as smoothly as possible even when issues are present.

Proper Implementation Helps to Quickly Resolve Issues

Mass notification isn’t just about sending out an alert. Robust mass notification systems also offer robust incident management capabilities to help actively resolve an issue. Organizations can plan multiple messages for different types of events, being able to have an initial alert, follow-ups, and all clear messages lined up and ready for use.

Key stakeholders can be invited to join virtual collaboration spaces or conference calls to share information, assess the situation, and determine the best course of action. Notifications can also be sent directly to recipients and ask for a response, helping organization leaders understand who is safe and who still needs assistance.

Whether it’s a personal injury caused by a slip and fall, structural damage caused to a building, or something else, environmental hazards pose costly risks to campuses.

Time, money, and resources can all be wasted if issues are not dealt with promptly, but to do so, organizations must find the right tools to help identify hazards, communicate with their people and respond accordingly. The quicker this can be done, the less likely it is that someone will encounter a dangerous situation.

Integrators that can help organizations add powerful software like AI threat detection and mass notification to existing hardware investments can provide a cost-effective and valuable solution to stay on top of potential issues and create a safe environment for all.

Terry Swanson is the president and CEO of Singlewire Software. This article was originally published in CS sister publication Security Sales & Integration and has been edited.

Note: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.

The post Leveraging Mass Notification and AI to Detect Environmental Hazards appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Today marks the fourth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.  CS is re-running this editorial, which was published in 2020 shortly after his death, because it’s an important reminder that all of us in the campus safety community must work together to better understand and support each other. Not doing so can lead to tragedy. Let us never forget.

Editor’s Note: As America and the world react to the tragic May 25 in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, many campuses and their public safety and security departments are struggling to respond. As editor-in-chief of Campus Safety magazine and as a white woman, I too have found it difficult to find the right words that will help our readers make sense of what our nation is currently experiencing. What should we do that we haven’t done before that will make a difference? What can we say to our communities to help them work through this tragedy and heal? I’m at a loss.

Although my writing skills have failed me in this matter, they have not failed my friend and long-time Campus Safety partner, University of Southern California Department of Public Safety Executive Director/Chief John “JT” Thomas.

Below is the letter Chief Thomas sent to the USC community on Wednesday in response to George Floyd’s killing. In it, he says everything I couldn’t, and I hope his words will help all of us take a good, hard look at ourselves so we can find new, more effective ways we can address the issue of racism in America. – Robin Hattersley

Dear Trojan Community,

Last week, like so many of you, I witnessed, yet again, the execution of a black man at the hands of law enforcement. For nearly nine long, harrowing, and painful minutes, I witnessed George Floyd taking his final breaths, begging for his life while officers of the Minneapolis Police Department exhibited utter disregard for it. I am disgusted and infuriated by what the video showed, but more than anything, I am exhausted at the fact that we continue to see the dehumanization of black bodies by law enforcement in this country in 2020. As I mentioned the next day on my social media platforms, “There is NO justification for the death of George Floyd,” and, “No one is above the law, not even those of us sworn to uphold it.” 

I want to begin by acknowledging the incomprehensible loss and pain that the Floyd family must be feeling at this moment. While we cannot guarantee they will find peace and comfort, we should all work to ensure that justice be served on behalf of Mr. Floyd and the countless numbers of black lives that have been senselessly lost at the hands of criminally prejudiced peace officers who have turned a blind eye to the institutional racism that has defined American policing throughout its history.

I must extend respect to the women and men who make up the vast majority of peace officers in this nation, who continue to model the best of compassionate public service. However, let me be blatantly clear: The actions of the officers responsible for Mr. Floyd’s murder (who, in my opinion, do not deserve to be called either peace officers or public servants) were cowardly, heinous, and criminal. I am angry at the officers responsible for murdering Mr. Floyd who, in less than 10 minutes, managed to erase years of public service provided by the vast majority of peace officers who have worked diligently in communities across America to try to repair procedural justice, address quality of life issues, and build mutual respect, many while trying their best to keep many of our most challenging communities safe.

Despite the irrefutable evidence that the video shows, I know that there will be some members of the public and some law enforcement colleagues of mine who would ask that we not be quick to rush to judgement and to wait for all of the facts to come out. To those individuals, I say that there are some facts that are evidently clear: George Floyd was indeed handcuffed. George Floyd was not resisting detention. George Floyd had a knee pressed against his neck for nearly nine minutes, all the while he was clearly articulating that he could not breathe and that he was in pain. As someone who has served in law enforcement for almost 36 years, and more importantly, as a human being, I can unequivocally say that those officers had a moral and ethical responsibility to render aid at that point.

Although Mr. Floyd’s execution came as a shock to many, as an American society, we need to recognize that the attitudes and behaviors that led to his murder have been deeply rooted in the institutionalized subjugation of black people on American soil since we first arrived in 1619. For many of us, the “knee on the neck” may feel like a metaphor for how blacks in America are held down, particularly at the hands of those whose duty it is to keep us safe. This has been the unfortunate legacy of American law enforcement in its relations with the black community. It is time for us in law enforcement to own up to this legacy, take a deep, hard look at how we engage with black communities, and collectively work to rebuild our institutions so that black communities are served as equitably as any other community in America. We must do these things to ensure that Mr. Floyd’s death was not in vain.

On a more personal note, as a black man, I know all too well what if feels like to be accosted by law enforcement and to feel the sting of having been racially profiled by those whose duty it is to keep us safe. Growing up in South Los Angeles, and, always as a law-abiding person, I had countless encounters with members of law enforcement, none of which were positive. Over 40 years later, I can still remember every single incident where I was mistreated by a member of law enforcement. These events were traumatizing, and the mental scars from these events will remain with me for the rest of my life. While I hope that other black Americans never have to go through similar experiences, I also know the unfortunate reality that, by virtue of just being black in America, the likelihood of similar encounters with the police are prevalent.

As the Chief of the USC Department of Public Safety, I want you to know that you have a right to feel safe and protected by those of us who took the oath to serve you. Moreover, I want you to know that if you ever feel, or have ever felt, discriminated against by a USC DPS officer, I want to personally know about it and help you get redress. Additionally, know that we are accountable to you, the community that we serve, and if you have any input or ideas as to how we can provide better service for communities, I want to listen to them.

In the words of President Barack Obama, “This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal.’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must do better.” This is why I am imploring all of us, particularly the law enforcement community and those members of our community who do not identify as black, to use George Floyd’s murder as an opportunity to do some introspection. Ask yourself: Do I harbor implicit biases that affect the way that I see people who identify as black? Regardless of my race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, etc., do I benefit from anti-blackness? How can I use my privilege to stand up for the black community?

It is my hope that by answering these difficult questions and by actively and consistently working towards dismantling racist sentiments, both within ourselves and our communities, we will never again have to hear about another law enforcement officer victimizing an unarmed black person who they are sworn to protect and serve.

In closing, I want to let it be known that, like most officers that I have encountered throughout my career, I chose to become a police officer to make a positive difference in, and be a public servant for, my community. I believed then, just as I believe now as I near the end of my career, that through listening, learning, and collaborating with the very communities that we collectively serve, we can reconstruct American law enforcement and the entire criminal justice system into what it can be and needs to be.

Let us never forget George Floyd, or the countless other known and unknown black lives that have been lost as a result of unjust and biased policing. Let us not also forget the Minneapolis officers’ crimes. Let us let both their actions and inactions serve as a reminder that this was the turning point, and let us ensure that we never go back to this again.

In Solidarity,

John Thomas, Executive Director/Chief, USC Department of Public Safety

The post The Death of George Floyd 4 Years Later appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year.

There is an 85% chance that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which is from June 1 to November 30, will be above normal. NOAA is forecasting 17 to 25 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of the named storms, eight to 13 are predicted to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher. Four to seven of those are expected to be major hurricanes (category 3, 4, or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher).

The forecast for named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes is the highest NOAA has ever issued for its May outlook, according to NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad.

The predicted above-normal activity is due to several factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation. Additionally, NOAA cites human-caused climate change as another contributing factor to the damages caused by storms. According to NOAA, “climate change is warming our ocean globally and in the Atlantic basin, and melting ice on land, leading to sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surge. Sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane.”

2024 Atlantic Storm and Hurricane Names

The names of this year’s Atlantic storms will be:

• Alberto
• Beryl
• Chris
• Debby
• Ernesto
• Francine
• Gordon
• Helene
• Isaac
• Joyce
• Kirk
• Leslie
• Milton
• Nadine
• Oscar
• Patty
• Rafael
• Sara
• Tony
• Valeria
• William

“Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today,” said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks in a press release. “Already, we are seeing storms move across the country that can bring additional hazards like tornadoes, flooding and hail. Taking a proactive approach to our increasingly challenging climate landscape today can make a difference in how people can recover tomorrow.”

The post Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecasted to Be Above Normal for 2024 appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Another major U.S. healthcare system has become the victim of a ransomware attack. Officials at Ascension — which is one of the largest private healthcare systems in the nation with a network of 140 hospitals in 19 states – said they first detected unusual activity on their network on May 8, reports KUT.

“Black Basta” is the type of ransomware used in the attack and has been used in other attacks on other healthcare organizations in recent years.

The attack on Ascension forced some of its hospitals to divert ambulances and resort to paper record keeping, reports CNN.

Nurses and doctors are saying the lack of access to online patient medical records is affecting patient safety, reports Michigan Public Radio. Clinicians at several of Ascension’s hospitals in Michigan said they can’t access patient histories, medications, allergies, and real-time test results. Staff said patients are going into elective surgeries before all of their lab results are back, but the volume of elective surgeries hasn’t decreased.

Nurses interviewed by MPR said they are concerned they will make medication errors because of the disruption. They fear they could lose their licenses or worse, injure or even kill a patient because they don’t have the correct information.

In a written statement, Ascension said patient safety is its “utmost priority” and urged patients to continue to show up for their appointments unless told otherwise.

Ascension Ransomware Breach Is Just the Latest to Impact Healthcare

Ascension’s cybersecurity issues are just the latest to befall a major U.S. healthcare organization. In February, Change Healthcare experienced a massive ransomware attack. The attack led to the limiting of patient care in some cases and billions of dollars worth of disrupted payments. It also likely leaked the personal data of up to one in three Americans, reports Fast Company.

In response to the spate of ransomware attacks on U.S. healthcare organizations, the federal government is investing $50 million to protect internet-connected hospital equipment from future attacks. The name of the program is “Universal PatchinG and Remediation for Autonomous DEfense (UPGRADE).”

The post Nurses at Michigan Hospitals Sound Alarm Over Patient Safety Issues Caused by Ransomware Attack appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.