Hostage situations

Incapacitating agents have been stockpiled by numerous countries and there have been unverified reports that they have been utilized on the battlefield. In addition, they have been employed by police and special forces as a way to end hostage situations (e.g., the September 2002 counter terrorism raid on the Moscow theater). These operations have met with mixed success. 

Kolokol-1 (Used by Russians to end 2002 theater hostage situation. Thought to be a fentanyl derivative.)... 

Children are likely to be victims of terrorist acts, and these acts can be targeted specifically to children. In 2004, terrorists in Beslan, Russia, held a school and its students hostage. More than 360 people died, half of them children (Parfitt, 2004). Children and adolescents themselves act as terrorists during shootings and hostage situations at schools. 

Within 1-2 h of exposure to BZ, there is mydriasis, dry mouth and skin, tachycardia, drowsiness, and after about 4 h, CNS anticholinergic effects develop, including a confusional state with delusions, hallucinations, erratic behavior pattern, and interference with cognitive functions that include problem solving, attention, and comprehension. These effects may persist for several days, during which time the subject is susceptible to injury. Memory for this period of confusion may be lost or be fragmentary. The induced delusional state makes it questionable whether BZ should be used in hostage situations. 

The police will be here soon. And, mister, when they arrive they are going to fillet you and your gang. Don t think I ll help you negotiate, the commissioner knows my policy on hostage situations. No surrender."... 

The newly revised Chapter 13 addresses security issues in emergency departments, pediatric locations, infant care units, medication storage locations, cUnical labs, forensic patient treatments areas, and behavioral units. The chapter also addresses communications, data infrastructure, and security of medical/health records. Chapter 13 covers media relations, crowd control, employee practices, and security operations. Facilities must conduct a security vulnerability analysis and planning for the protection of people and resources beyond a disaster event. Security education should address customer relations, emergency procedures, use of force issues, importance of effective de-escalation of tense tactics, and restraint usage. The new code reqnires the development of policies, plans, and procedures to address hostage situations, bomb threats, workplace violence, disorderly conduct, and restraining order policies. 

Plan for fire, bomb threats, hostage situations, terrorist takeovers. 

Incident consequences fatahties, casualties, reported downtime, infrastructure impact (ordinal scale), hostage situation (Y/N), number of hostages, ransom paid (amount)... 

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