CHICAGO — Chicago hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues are ready to showcase the city as it receives the worldwide attention that comes with hosting a presidential nominating convention.
But, while civic leaders are hoping for the best, they’re also preparing for the worst.
“I’m confident our plan will provide a safe and secure environment during the DNC,” said Derek Mayer, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service which is handling security for the convention.
‘NATIONAL SPECIAL SECURITY EVENT’
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated the Democratic National Convention as a “national special security event” similar to the State of the Union Address, the Super Bowl, or a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
The designation means federal authorities believe the DNC could be a potential target for terrorism or other criminal activity – like a mass shooting, a bombing, a chemical attack, or a protest that turns into a riot.
The United Center sits just across the Eisenhower Expressway from one of the city’s busiest hospitals: Rush University Medical Center.
“We are on the driveway of the United Center,” said Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, the medical director of Rush University Medical Center’s EMS and Disaster Medicine departments. “We’re preparing for anything whether it’s a mass casualty attack, whether it’s a stabbing, an explosion, we want to be prepared for everything.”
RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER CONDUCTING DISASTER DRILLS
Since May, Cozzi has led 18 full-scale disaster drills at Rush to be ready for a catastrophe.
The heightened tension surrounding the presidential campaign has been evident since the by the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
Cozzi said Rush is ready for an attack, having practiced scenarios for a “code triage” in which the walking wounded would be separated from the gravely injured, and hospital beds would be wheeled into open spaces like the lobby.
“A code triage is Rush’s designation that a mass casualty incident has occurred,” Cozzi said. “It mobilizes staff to the emergency department, and it allows us to expand the emergency department to have alternative areas available to activate and to evaluate patients.”
LARGE-SCALE PROTESTS EXPECTED
The DNC could attract 25,000 protesters, according to the Chicago Police Dept. Based on planning discussions among law enforcement and emergency management, one priority is dealing with the potential of large crowds being exposed to pepper spray.
“Patients might have burning eyes , they might have difficulty breathing and we have to have the ability to quickly remove that substance from their body,” Cozzi said.
At the push of a button Rush’s ambulance bay can be transformed into a mass decontamination center — in this drill dividers drop from the ceiling, and nurses in protective gear use soap and water to decontaminate those who have been exposed to the chemical agent – all of the water goes to a special tank, so it doesn’t contaminate the city’s system.
“There are some hospitals that have to build tents outside,” Cozzi said. “That takes time and delays care for the patients. This is our ambulance bay that we can turnkey in less than 3 minutes and create mass decontamination ability.”
CHICAGO POLICE ASSIGNS 2,500 OFFICERS TO DNC
There are four major hospitals in the Illinois Medical District. Each one works closely with the department of public health, the fire department and the police department – which conducted special training for officers.
“They’ll have insults thrown at them, and at some point human nature kicks in and the possibility or likelihood of making a mistake becomes greater,” said CPD Supt. Larry Snelling. “This is why we have line relief to bring in a fresh batch of officers who can deal with the situation a lot better.”’
The Chicago Police Department is assigning 2,500 officers to the DNC. An additional 500 officers from departments across Illinois — and Milwaukee, Wisconsin — will assist the CPD