EMPORIA, Kan. (KSNW) — Newman Regional Health says a technical mishap triggered the facility-wide lockdown that sent law enforcement rushing to the hospital Thursday morning.

Hospital officials said a third-party contractor installing hand sanitizer dispensers accidentally disturbed wiring behind a wall, setting off the hospital’s active-shooter alarm system.

The alarm automatically sent overhead announcements, phone notifications, and an alert to law enforcement. Within minutes, Newman Regional Health went into lockdown and multiple agencies responded. Officers carried out a building-by-building sweep, which lasted more than two hours before the all-clear was issued.

Throughout the incident, patients continued receiving care, and staff followed their emergency training, hospital leader

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