ABC News

Facilities staff find 50-year-old 'treasure' hidden in hospital basement

Green Bay hospital finds Geiger counters and radiation detection kits, dated 1962

By Healthcare Facilities Today


Christmas came early this year for officials at Green Bay's St. Vincent Hospital, according to a story on the WBAY.com website.

Tucked away in the basement, they unearthed a treasure dating back some 50 years. Twelve boxes, never opened, full of Geiger counters and radiation detection kits, shipped from the Office of Civil Defense, dated 1962.

In the heart of the cold war, Americans had real fears a nuclear attack would become reality. The government spent 23 million dollars, a lot of money in the 1960s, preparing the nation. St. Vincent Hospital was no exception, the article said.

"Hospitals are obligated to care for their patients, their welfare, their safety, and that includes safety from terrorist events, and in 1962, from possible nuclear detonations, so that's what we did,"  Steve Pelch, St. Vincent Hospital's Director of Safety and Security, said in the article.

"They're all actually pristine condition. They're still in their original packaging with absorbent materials, and they've never been touched or put into use," said Pelch in the articles.

Read the article.

 



December 16, 2013


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

How Can Healthcare Facilities Use Efficiency to Drive Climate and Health Goals?

Keith Edgerton discusses how the Health Care Energy & Water Efficiency Checklist helps healthcare connect operational savings with their mission to protect people and the planet.


El Camino Health Rehabilitation Hospital Officially Tops Out

This new 64,000-square-foot, 52-bed inpatient facility in Sunnyvale, California, will enhance rehabilitation services in Santa Clara County.


Vibra Hospital of Sacramento Reports Data Breach

Vibra Hospital is not aware of any evidence to suggest that any information has been misused.


EV Charging Station Design: Ensuring Patient Access

The question is not whether to install charging infrastructure — the organization eventually will have to — but how to do it without disrupting patient care.


Sanford Health and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Merge

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System will transition to the Sanford Health name and brand while preserving and expanding health services across the communities it serves.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.