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Weapons Retrieved After the Implementation of Emergency Department Metal Detection
S Terez Malka1, Robin Chisholm2, Marla Doehring3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 9, 2015
Summary
Metal detectors at emergency department entrances effectively reduced firearms entering the facility. While increasing detection hours led to more knives and sprays being found, firearm retrievals significantly decreased, indicating enhanced security.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Security Studies
Background:
- High-profile violent incidents in emergency departments (EDs) necessitate improved security measures.
- Limited recent research exists on the effectiveness of ED metal detection for weapon retrieval.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of implementing metal detection at an ED entrance on weapons retrieval.
- To assess the correlation between metal detection hours and the types of weapons retrieved.
Main Methods:
- A metal detector was installed at the entrance of a high-volume urban teaching hospital ED in September 2011.
- Security personnel recorded retrieved firearms, knives, chemical sprays, and other weapons over a 26-month period.
- Qualitative analysis was performed on the collected weapons retrieval data.
Main Results:
- A total of 5,877 weapons were retrieved, averaging 218 per month.
- Firearm retrievals decreased from 182 in 2012 to 47 in 2013, despite increased metal detection hours.
- Retrievals of knives, chemical sprays, and other weapons (e.g., brass knuckles, stun guns) increased during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Metal detection at the ED entrance successfully identified a large volume of weapons.
- Increased metal detection hours correlated with higher retrieval rates for knives, chemical sprays, and other weapons.
- ED metal detection is effective in preventing weapons from entering the ED, with a notable reduction in firearms.