Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code of Many Colors:
Standardized Emergency Codes
and Emergency Alerts
Karmanos Cancer Center
Environment of Care
2009
Page 1 of 12
Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Standardized Emergency Codes
Code Red – Fire
Code Blue – Adult Medical Emergency
Code White – Pediatric Medical Emergency
Code Brown – Neonatal Medical Emergency
Code Yellow – Bomb Threat
Code Gray – Combative Person
Code Pink – Infant Abduction (<1 year-old)
Code Purple – Child Abduction
Code Silver – Person with Weapon/Hostage
Code Black – Severe Weather
Code Orange – Hazardous Material Spill/Release
Code Evac – Evacuation of Patients Required
Code Violet – Radiation Incident
Code Triage Internal – Internal Disaster
Code Triage External – External Disaster
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Standardized
Emergency
Codes
Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code Red - Fire
Smoke or Fire Situation – Follow the RACE and PASS
acronyms below. Be able to locate the following in your
department/unit:
• Nearest extinguishers and pull alarm boxes
• Evacuation plan and two exit routes in your assigned area
(RACE):
R = Rescue anyone in Immediate danger
A = Alarm activate the alarm, notify appropriate personnel
C = Confine and contain by closing doors
E = Extinguish small fire, if trained
(PASS):
P = Pull the pin
A = Aim nozzle at base of the fire
S = Squeeze the handle
S = Sweep the nozzle from side to side at the base of the fire
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Medical Emergency Codes
To facilitate the arrival of crash cart and specialized personnel to the
location of an individual found in cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Action:
Call hospital operator to announce the specific code and location
Code Blue – Adult Medical Emergency
(Persons 8 years of age or greater)
Code White – Pediatric Medical Emergency
(Persons 8 years of age or less)
Code Brown – Neonatal Medical Emergency
(Patients of infant ages)
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code Yellow – Bomb Threat
To facilitate the notification of a bomb or threat of a bomb (suspicious
package).
Action: Take all reports of a bomb seriously. Keep caller on line, obtain
as much information as possible. Complete the Bomb Threat Form.
Contact Security.
Code Gray – Combative Person
To facilitate the management and de-escalation
of an abusive or assaultive person.
Action: Do not attempt to intervene. Contact
security giving your full name. Provide as much
information as possible about the incident;
giving the location of the incident, number of
persons involved, injuries and any weapons (if
applicable).
Notify supervisor as soon as possible.
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Infant/Child Abduction
To protect infants/children from removal by unauthorized
persons. Initiated when an infant/child are missing or is known
to have been kidnapped.
Action: Notify Security immediately
Give as much information as possible
Secure all exits. A search of the building and grounds
will be conducted by designated individuals.
Code Pink – Infant Abduction (< 1 years of age)
Code Purple – Child Abduction
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code Silver – Person with a Weapon/ Hostage
Initiated when there is an individual in possession of a
weapon, or one who has taken hostages.
Action: Clear area to avoid others being endangered.
Call security to report the situation. Report
as much information as possible.
Code Black – Severe Weather
Initiated when unsafe weather conditions exist in
the area.
Action: Close blinds, drapes, and unit doors
Reassure patients and visitors
Move patients from rooms to hallways.
Cover non-ambulatory patients with
blankets to avoid injury from debris.
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code Orange – Hazardous Material Spill/Release
To initiate prompt response in the event of a hazardous material
spill or release ensuring the proper disposal of material.
Action:
Incidental Spills: Trained users clean up small spills, using the
appropriate personal protective equipment, and decontamination
materials. These spill represent NO hazard to trained employees or the
environment. Materials must be appropriately disposed of and
Environmental Service should be contacted for secondary cleanup.
Emergency Spill: Spills which may present a hazard to people or the
environment or the effects are unknown. Isolate the spill (evacuate).
Deny entry to others and notify the supervisor. Contact the Safety
Officer 576-8047.
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code Evac – Evacuation of Patients Required
To facilitate the evacuation of patients when remaining in
area may be hazardous to life, health and safety.
Action:
•Upon notification, evacuate ambulatory, wheelchair, then bedridden
patients. Take records if safety permits. Follow department plan.
• Report to designated assembly area and account for all who were in
previous area.
• Report evacuation status and identify persons not accounted for to the
“Incident Commander.”
Code Violet – Radiation Incident
To initiate prompt response in the event of a radiation incident or
release of radioactive material.
Action: Isolate spill area and deny (evacuate) entry to others.
Notify supervisor and security. Notify Radiation Safety Officer.
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Code Triage: Internal Disaster
To prepare the facility for an influx of patients due to an
internal disaster.
Action: If at work, return to department. Complete
assigned duties. If at home, report as instructed.
Implement department disaster plan. Perform employee
call back procedures when instructed to do so or when
additional staffing is required. Follow instructions of
your facility. Complete the disaster evaluation form.
Code Triage: External Disaster
To prepare the facility for an influx of patients due to an external
disaster.
Action: If at work, return to department. Complete assigned duties. If
at home, report as instructed.
Implement department disaster plan. Perform employee call back
procedures when instructed to do so or when additional staffing is
required. Follow instructions of your facility. Complete the disaster
evaluation form.
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
Standardized Emergency Alerts
• Birth Alert – Newborn Delivery
(Outside Labor and Delivery Area)
• Utility Alert (State the Utility) – Utility Alert
(Elevator, HVAC, Water, Medical Gases,
Power, Steam)
• Green Alert – Patient Medical Duress. This Alert is used only at
Rehabilitation Institute or the Brazsa Center. The overhead can
be heard at KCC but there is no response by KCC employees.
Emergency plans are kept in your department’s Emergency Binders.
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Standardized Emergency Codes & Emergency Alerts
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