By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

A man armed with a knife was shot by a police officer recently near Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, according to Miami Herald. The shooting occurred after reports of a fight between two men, one of whom had a knife. The man with the knife did not cooperate with the police, leading to an officer shooting him once. The man was also shot with a stun gun. Despite being wounded, he managed to reach the hospital's emergency wing, where he was detained by the police. The incident led to the closure of several streets in the area, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the matter. 

The altercation originated from an argument inside the building, which then spilled outside, according to a witness. Witnesses observed several police officers pursuing the knife-wielding man, prompting one bystander to warn others in his vicinity. 

In situations like these, securing the facility becomes a top priority. This can be done through many different measures, such as security guards, access controls and lockdown procedures. 

Security guards act as the first line of defense against active threats in healthcare facilities they can minimize or stop the threat. But some threats can breach the first line of defense. 

When that happens, access control technology can aid in locking down certain areas of the facility. These systems can also alert security personnel as to where the threat is located. Access controls also can send an alarm so facility occupants are aware of the situation and can react appropriately.  

Another effective tool is having staff trained on lockdown procedures. Once staff know what to do and what is expected, they can help get other occupants and themselves to safety. Ultimately, practicing and drilling on these procedures are as tantamount to successful security as the personnel or access controls. 

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