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LEBANON, N.H. (AP) — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is going to become the second hospital in New Hampshire to give its officers hand-held safety devices to record and help control unruly patients and visitors.
The Valley News reports (http://bit.ly/1EuHCQp) hospital officials say the devices for security officers come equipped with a camera, audio recorder, siren, strobe light, laser spotter and pepper gel. All can be used to defuse high-stress situations.
Currently, security officers are only permitted to use oral and hands-on defusing methods. They are only armed with handcuffs.
The chairman of their clinical ethics committee said verbal and hands-on techniques won't suffice for every situation.
Officers could be carrying the devices by July.
Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough was the first hospital to buy the devices, but is still setting up software for them.
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Information from: Lebanon Valley News, http://www.vnews.com
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