L.A. Hospitals Readied For Bio-Terrorism

Concerned about a possible biological or chemical terrorist attack during the Democratic National Convention, Los Angeles hospitals have stocked up on antidotes and undergone decontamination training.

At the request of U.S. Secret Service and other government officials, about a dozen hospitals downtown also have received special equipment to protect doctors and nurses and treat patients.

“The thing we are most concerned about is terrorism and particularly, bio-terrorism,” said Jim Lott, executive vice president of the Healthcare Association of Southern California, which represents hospitals countywide. “We will be on super-alert mode for the convention.”

“We’re not all equipped to handle biochemical terrorist threats. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be handled.”

FBI, Secret Service and police stress preparations for any eventuality are necessary for a high-profile political event involving the president, vice president and thousands of party activists.

“We are looking at what occurred in Seattle and indications that some of those folks are planning on coming and exercising their First Amendment rights in Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Emergency Operations Bureau Lt. Dennis Beene. “There isn’t anything we’re seeing that we’re concerned about.”

Still, officials said there is always the potential for terrorism and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Frank O’Donnell said agents have met with hospitals to ensure “in the event of an emergency, all the advance work has been done.

“In addition to that, both the president and vice president travel with military doctors. All over town, depending on where the president or vice president will be - the west end or downtown - we reach out to all the hospitals they will be close to.”

At California Hospital Medical Center - the closest hospital to Staples Center where the convention will be held Aug. 14-17 - doctors and nurses have been told they could be the first choice for treatment in the event of a terrorist attack.

“We have purchased a lot of equipment, specialized masks and gowns,” said Dr. Robert Splawn, medical director of the hospital. “And the No. 1 one thing we need to do is secure the hospital because if we’re down, we won’t be able to take care of anyone.

Protest organizers said the preparations are part of the “hype and hysteria” concerning demonstrators.

“The idea that protesters have any plans to be involved in any terrorist activity is just outrageous and really discourages people from exercising their First Amendment rights,” said D2K protest spokeswoman Margaret Prescod.

She said law enforcement figures that 50,000 protesters are expected at the convention are exaggerated.