Emergency Codes Effective October 1, 2008

Introduction A fatal shooting in a Southern California Hospital took the lives of three employees An Emergency Code was announced, but confusion about the meaning of this code led to their deaths Standardized Emergency Codes: Provide clear, concise notification of an emergency Improves the safety of staff, physicians, patients and visitors

Rapid Response Team Rapid Response Team is called whenever a medical emergency occurs within the facility. For example, the Rapid Response Team should be called if someone has fainted. If you discover the medical emergency: Remain with the individual Ask someone to call for the Rapid Response Team If you are asked to call the Rapid Response Team Call the emergency number Provide location The operator announces Rapid Response Team and location

Code Blue: Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest Code Blue is called whenever a patient is experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest. For example, Code Blue is called when a patient has stopped breathing. To initiate a Code Blue: If you discover a patient experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest, Remain with the patient Ask someone to call a Code Blue If you are asked to call a Code Blue, Call the emergency number Provide location The operator announces Code Blue and the location

Code Gray: Security Threat Code Gray is called to respond to a security threat. This situation presents itself when an individual acts in an aggressive manner or shows a weapon in an aggressive manner. To initiate a Code Gray: The individual witnessing the event calls the emergency number and asks to have a Code Gray announced Provide details about the event including the location and a description of the individual and weapon (if appropriate) Security will respond to the area If you hear Code Gray: Stay calm Staff shall avoid the specified area Seek protection and stay alert to the situation If possible, lock doors, closing off the area Move staff, patients and visitors to a safe location, if possible

Code Black: Bomb Threat When a bomb threat is made, initiate the following steps to call a Code Black. If you receive a bomb threat: Remain calm Listen carefully and speak with the individual for as long as possible Try to ascertain the individual’s sex and note any identifiable speech patterns (lisp, accent, etc.) Try to gather as much information about the location and appearance of the bomb as possible If you phone has Caller ID, be sure to note the phone number from which they are calling Call the emergency number and provide as much information as possible, or have a colleague call while you stay on the phone with the individual If you hear a Code Black: Be aware of your surroundings Take note of suspicious packages DO NOT TOUCH the package Inform security by calling the emergency number Secure the area by closing doors and keeping people away from the area Await further instructions

Code Brown: Lockdown Lockdowns are used to secure the facility, limiting entrance to or exit from the building. To initiate Code Brown: This code will be initiated by Leadership (Administrator on Call) along with security personnel and/or police Upon hearing Code Brown: Security will be responsible for limiting entrance and exit of the facility All visitors will be stopped and questioned Identification must be worn Some entrances may be closed to limit ingress and egress

Code Pink: Infant Child Abduction When any hospital personnel are informed of a missing infant or child, Code Pink must be initiated by completing the following steps. To initiate Code Pink: Call the emergency number, stating that there is a missing infant/child and to initiate a Code Pink Provide a brief description of the child’s appearance, including the age and sex of the child The operator announces Code Pink, including the description of the infant/child Upon hearing Code Pink: All personnel are to immediately stop non-critical work Report to all stairwell doors, elevator areas and other exits from the immediate area Personnel who are outside their normal work area should report to the nearest exit Question anyone with an infant or child that fits the description and be suspicious of bags which may be large enough to hold an infant/child If you see a suspicious person, call the emergency number with a description, the location and the route of the person

Code Orange: External Hazmat/Bioterrorism Hazardous material and bioterrorism events can easily affect healthcare facilities. For example, Code Orange may be called if there is an explosion at a nearby chemical plant. Code Orange will be initiated by: Leadership (Administrator on Call) , or appropriate designee If you hear Code Orange: Staff should refer to their department’s procedure for responding to an external disaster Implement this procedure when the code is announced If it is a Hazmat event, staff trained in the decontamination process should report to the appropriate meeting place Await further instructions

Code White: Disaster Internal and external disasters may present themselves in many forms. Examples of internal disasters may include: Network Outage Internal flooding External disasters include: Pandemic Multi-vehicle accidents Code White will be initiated by: Leadership (Administrator on Call) Staff should refer to their department’s procedure for responding to an external disaster Implement this procedure when the code is announced Await further instructions

Code Red: Fire Code Red should be initiated when one of the following conditions exist: Visible smoke or fire Smelling of smoke or burning Feeling unusual heat on walls and doors To initiate Code Red, implement the “R. A. C. E.” strategy: R – Remove person(s) in danger of smoke or fire A – Alarm pull the fire alarm and call the emergency number C – Confine the fire by closing all windows and doors E – Evacuate the area and Extinguish the fire if it is reasonably safe and you are trained to do so

For More Information… For more information about the new Emergency Codes, please access one of the following sources: Emergency Preparedness intranet site http://templescope.tuhis.temple.edu Emergency Code Manual Available from the Human Resource Department or your supervisor Online policies Accessed through the ‘Policies and Key Documents’ icon on your desktop Your facility’s Emergency Code contact