1. Emergency Codes
Effective October 1, 2008

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. For More Information…
For more information about the new Emergency Codes, please access one of the following sources:
Emergency Preparedness intranet site
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