Emergency & SafetyQuestion 177 of 200

A suspicious unattended package is found in a lobby. The security officer should:

a.Pick it up to inspect for a name tag
b.Open it carefully to identify the contents
c.Smell or shake it to determine if it contains liquid or powder
d.Do not touch or move it — clear the immediate area, prevent others from approaching, notify law enforcement, and follow the building's bomb-incident plan

Explanation

DHS suspicious-package protocol is 'Recognize, Avoid, Isolate, Notify' (the RAIN model). Do NOT touch, move, open, smell, or shake the item — any of these can detonate a device or release a hazardous substance. Clear the area to a safe distance (rule of thumb: at least 300 feet for a small package, much further for a vehicle), prevent re-entry, notify law enforcement, and brief responding officers on what was observed, who reported it, and where the item is. Building bomb-incident plans should be pre-written and rehearsed.

Law Reference: DHS suspicious-package protocol; 'See Something, Say Something'

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