Emergency Codes

Presented By- Jeet Ghosh

(Resource Person- Healthcare sector)
 Emergency Codes Overview
• Every workplace should have
emergency procedures and
plans – in hospitals, they are
called Emergency Codes
• It is every clerks responsibility
to familiarize themselves
with the emergency codes at
each site
• Each clerk must be
knowledgeable and confident
to respond to any Code
called
Code Red – Fire in the Hospital
Code Blue – Medical Emergency in an
Adult or Child
Code Pink – Medical Emergency in an Infant
Code Brown – Chemical Spill
Code Black – Bomb Threat
Code White – Violent Person
Code Purple – Hostage Situation
Code Silver – Person with a Weapon /
Lockdown
Code Grey – Infrastructure Loss or Failure
Code Green – Internal Evacuation
Code Orange – Disaster in the Community
 In the Event of an Emergency
• Dial 3-3-3-3 from any phone at WRH or
HDGH

• Provide Switchboard with the following

information:
– Emergency Code
– Campus (WRH) or
Department/Floor/Building (HDGH)
– Exact/Specific Location (know where you
are e.g. 4West, or your fire zone (maps are
on the walls)
 Code Red – Fire in the Hospital
Remain calm and follow the acronym
R.A.C.E.
• Rescue/Remove anyone from
immediate danger to a safe area
• Assess the situation and pull the
nearest fire alarm. Contact
Switchboard with
Code/Campus/Location
• Confine the fire by closing all
doors/windows
• Extinguish the fire or
evacuate the
area
 Code Red – Fire in the Hospital

P Pull the pin

Aim nozzle at base of fire

A Squeeze handle

Sweep nozzle side to side

SFire alarm pull stations and fire extinguishers are located near stairwells in the
hospital - It is your responsibility to know the location of these items in the area
you are in
 When you hear a fire alarm
• Close all windows and doors
• Clear the hallways of equipment and furniture
• Turn on all the lights
• Do not use the elevator
• Absolutely no unnecessary outgoing phone calls – Staff will
assign someone to stay by the telephone
• Reassure patients and visitors
• Review patient status in preparation for an evacuation
• Return to regular duties once the “All Clear” is announced
 Entering an Affected Room/Zone
Feel the Door..
• If warm, only enter if:
• It is absolutely necessary
• You have a good chance of saving lives

• If the door is hot, do NOT enter!

 Code Green – Internal Evacuation
Level I – Horizontal Evacuation
Evacuate all affected persons beyond the fire separation door to
an adjacent safe area on the SAME floor
Level II – Vertical Evacuation
Evacuate all affected persons to another floor, preferably 2 floors
down
Level III – Total Evacuation
Evacuate all persons from the building – Remain in your assigned
areas for instruction
 Code Brown – Chemical Spill
Level I – Departmental Response
Spill is small and can be cleaned up – do NOT call a Code Brown
Consult with your Supervisor for completion of a report in the risk
management software
Level II – Code Brown Team Response
Large spill that requires special clean-up procedures – the Code
Brown team will respond
Level III – External Response
A health/fire/environmental hazard that requires special clean-up
procedures – the Fire Department will respond
 Code Black – Bomb Threat
If you receive a bomb threat..
Remain calm and listen carefully, be courteous, don’t interrupt the
caller, and record the exact wording of the threat

Obtain as much information as possible

Where is it? When will it explode? What kind of bomb is it? What
does it look like? Why did you place it here?

Listen for other identifiers

Gender, approximate age, accent, speech characteristics,
mannerisms, background noises
 Code Black – Bomb Threat
If you receive a bomb threat by mail
• Dial 3-3-3-3 to report a Code Black
• Avoid handling the document

Once a Code Black is called

• Assist staff with a visual search of the area
• Do not touch anything suspicious
• Turn off all pagers, cell phones and electronic devices
• Remain in the area for further instruction
 Code Purple – Hostage Situation
Code Purple is called in the event that a person is forcibly confined
or held against his/her will, with the threat of a weapon or threat
of violence
If you witness this kind of situation, dial 9-1-1 immediately and provide
the
following information:
• Location
• Visible signs or mention of weapons
• Number and physical description of hostage(s)
• Number and physical description of hostage takers
• Whether the hostage taker(s) are contained within a specific room or
whether they are mobile
 Code Purple – Hostage Situation
STEP 1: Dial 9-1-1 immediately and give operator all necessary information

STEP 2: DO NOT attempt any action. Ensure safety of patients and visitors in
the immediate area

STEP 3: Dial 3-3-3-3 and advise Switchboard that 9-1-1 was called for a
Code Purple

STEP 4: Wait for Security and Police to arrive

STEP 5: DO NOT initiate conversation with the hostage taker(s) but do

answer if spoken to

STEP 6: Write down or remember any demands or actions

 Code White – Violent Person
A Code White may be initiated when:
• De-escalation efforts have failed, or appear to be failing
• The physical safety of staff, visitors or patients is being threatened
due to the actions or behaviour of another person
• A person displays a substantial loss of control, which could result
in harm to themselves, others, or to the physical environment
• Aggressive and/or violent behaviour is imminent and/or has
erupted

When in doubt, call a Code White to get help!

 Code Silver – Person with a Weapon
• Initiated when an individual is threatening to use, attempting to use, or
actively using a weapon to cause harm, regardless of the type of weapon
and the situation cannot be controlled without enhanced police
response
• NOTE: HDGH does not use the term “Code Silver” – they use the term
“Lockdown” to signify the same thing
• Call 3-3-3-3 if you are told or see someone with a weapon, see
attempted violence with a person or see someone carrying a weapon
on/near hospital grounds
• Switchboard will call 9-1-1 and connect directly to the person who
called
the Code (Stay on the line if it is safe to do so to provide details)
• Security and other staff will not respond due to potential risk for
harm
 Code Silver – Person with a Weapon
Remember “Run.. Hide.. Fight”
– Do not engage the assailant verbally or physically
– Remain calm and evacuate, if able. If unable to evacuate, hide
– Silence phones / sources of noise
– If your life is in imminent danger, fight back as a last resort (work together)

If a Code Silver is announced and you are not in your designated area:
• Remain calm and evacuate safely (do not return to your area)
• Hide if you are unable to leave
• Do not use the phone unless it is directly related to the Code Silver
• Medical emergency codes will not be called overhead during a Code
Silver
 Code Yellow – Missing Patient
When you discover that a patient is missing:
• Staff in immediate area will conduct a search of the department
• If NOT found, call a Code Yellow and provide the following:
– Patient name
– Department and Unit
– Patient description (including clothing)
– Time and location last seen

Staff in other areas will return to their designated areas and assist with
the search. If the person is located, ask them to remain in the department
and call 3-3-3-3 to report that the patient has been found (include
location)
 Code Amber – Missing Child
A missing infant/child is ALWAYS assumed to be the victim of
abduction
Immediately call 3-3-3-3 and report the following:
– Unit/area involved
– Description of the infant/child
– Description of the clothing/blanket
– Time and location last seen
– Description of the person last seen with the infant/child, if known

Security will notify Police and initiate lockdown procedures. Staff

from
other areas should search – if found, call 3-3-3-3 of status and
location
 Code Blue – Medical Emergency (adult)
Code Pink – Medical Emergency (infant <1 mth)
If you discover a person who appears unresponsive, tap and shout
“Are you okay?”
If no response, shout for help and call 3-3-3-3 with the following
information:
• Code
• Location (Campus/Department/Building)
• Specific location
In both medical emergencies, response teams will arrive at the scene
of the Code
 Code Orange – External Disaster
Code Orange Alert – Hospital has been notified that a disaster has
occurred in the community – NO CASUALTIES are arriving yet
Level I – The hospital is receiving less than 4 casualties
Level II – The hospital is receiving more than 3 major casualties
and/or the number of victims/severity of injuries will require
additional staff and resources
Level III - The hospital is receiving more than 3 major casualties
and/or the number of victims/severity of injuries will require
additional staff and resources AND normal hospital routines will be
disrupted
 Code Orange – External Disaster
Code Orange Downgraded – Hospital is no longer receiving new
casualties. Staff continue to care for current casualties
Code Orange Decontam – A chemical, biological, nuclear and/or
radioactive disaster has occurred – lockdown and decontamination
procedures need to be implemented
Thank You