London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) says its new weapons detection system will be fully installed within the next few weeks.
David Musyj, the hospital’s supervisor, shared the news at LHSC’s Monthly Community Meeting Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, incidents involving weapons in a hospital setting have become more common,” Musyj commented.
Musyj said staff are currently training on the AI powered Evolv weapons detection system, which will go live at University Hospital April 15, and at LHSC’s Victoria Campus some time in May. It will be installed in the each of the hospital’s emergency departments, along with the emergency department at Children’s Hospital.
Musyj called it a “proactive step” to mitigate risks.
“Nothing is 100 per cent on its own, meaning this has to be coupled with other security measures like security staff, cameras, and other things that enhance security and safety of everyone who visits an emergency department,” he explained.
Procurement of the system from the American based company follows a traumatic incident late last year. On Dec. 14, 2024, a truck pulled into the emergency bay at Victoria Hospital, striking a cement pillar. A second vehicle arrived, and multiple shots were fired, hitting the truck and shattering part of the glass entrance to the emergency department.
The incident had people inside scrambling for cover. It prompted a Code Silver, letting people know there was someone inside with a weapon, or an active shooter on the property.
Musyj explained that the system is non-intrusive, and not connected to the hospital IT, so it won’t collect patient information.
Hospital officials said it’s currently in place at a number of Ontario hospitals, including Windsor Regional Hospital.
“Very user-friendly, very easy to use,” said Chris Askew, LHSC Director of Facilities, Operations. “Quick in the moment to highlight anything. Our team did partner and go down and work with Windsor prior to our devices being received here.”
“From the people I’ve talked to that have experienced this back in Windsor, they had comfort knowing that the person next to them in the emergency department had to go through the same machine when they entered the department. And it took something off their mind that they didn’t have to worry about, or lessened it,” said Musyj.
Musyj said the Evolv weapons detection system comes with a price tag of $8,000 Canadian per month over a four year lease.
