By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

The Emporia Police Department responded to an active shooter alarm on August 28 at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Kansas, WIBW reports. After a two-hour search of the hospital and nearby medical facilities, no threat was found. Officials determined the alarm was triggered by a malfunctioning emergency switch.  

Maintaining safety systems ensures that they don’t malfunction. False alarms can disrupt hospital operations, create panic, divert resources and strain staff. If malfunctions are frequent, it may undermine the staff’s confidence in the systems. 

Regular inspection, testing and preventive maintenance of emergency alert systems is critical. Failure points can either be mechanical such as switches and wiring, or digital with system errors and integration issues.  

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Fire Safety Alarms recommends routine inspections, testing and maintenance of these alert systems. They also recommend that facility managers check detectors, manual stations, control panels, conduct sensitivity tests, ensure backup power works, clean, recalibrate and replace aging components. 

Additionally, Nihon Kohden University calls for customizing alarm delays and reducing nuisance alarms as part of managing false alarms. Data-driven alarm reduction and weekly alarm reports help fine-tune alarm protocols and reduce unnecessary alerts, according to LWW Nursing Management. 

False alarms are more than simple inconveniences; they can reveal vulnerabilities in healthcare facility infrastructure. Such incidents may highlight areas where maintenance programs and resilience strategies can be reinforced. Facilities managers can use false alarms as learning opportunities to strengthen preparedness, protect staff confidence and ensure that safety systems are ready when needed. 

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market.