CODE BLUE

(CARDIAC ARREST)
(MEDICAL EMERGENCY)
 CODE BLUE
CODE BLUE is used for cardiac arrest or any other acute medical emergency (such
as a respiratory arrest) that requires an immediate and coordinated response from
staff to save a life.

CODE BLUE PROCEDURE

Expected Response from the First Person on the Scene:

The person who determines that someone (resident, staff member or visitor) has
had a cardiac arrest or is experiencing a medical emergency will:

1. Determine whether or not to initiate a CODE BLUE.

When a resident is involved, review the Advance Directives to ensure that

s/he wants to be resuscitated.

If s/he wants to be resuscitated, proceed with the CODE BLUE procedure.

When an individual’s wishes are unknown (resident, outpatient, staff or

visitor), proceed with the CODE BLUE procedure.

Please Note: It is acceptable NOT to initate CPR in any case where the
cardiac arrest was unwitnessed and the affected individual
exhibits obvious signs of death (i.e. vital signs absent with
the presence of rigor mortis and/or tissue decay, etc.).

2. Shout “CODE BLUE” to summon any assistance available in the immediate

area.

3. Call “9-911” and state that someone is having a “Cardiac Arrest” or “[other
medical emergency]”.

Direct the ambulance to the main entrance at 100 Westmount Road.

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 4. Call (or direct someone else to call) for additional assistance.

Staff working on or near a resident neighbourhood should proceed to one of

the red Emergency Telephones (found in a recessed box on the wall beside
each Medication Room as you exit from any pair of neighbourhoods).
Pick up the receiver and press the button to activate the emergency
overhead paging system and CLEARLY announce “CODE BLUE –
[LOCATION] (neighbourhood and/or room number)” THREE TIMES.

If you are anywhere else within the facility, please call “0” to reach
Switchboard and ask them to use the Emergency Telephone located at
Switchboard to announce “CODE BLUE – [LOCATION] (department,
program area and/or room number)” THREE TIMES.

When the Switchboard area is not staffed, calls will be forwarded to the
Security Guard on duty and security personnel will access the closest
Emergency Telephone to announce the “CODE BLUE”.

Please Note: In the event that a staff member, volunteer or visitor working
in Long Term Care requires resuscitation, please announce
“CODE BLUE - EMPLOYEE - [LOCATION]” THREE TIMES
so that an RN from Rosewood will also respond and
bring additional equipment (i.e. the Emergency Cart and
defibrillator)(see Step 5).

5. Obtain the appropriate resuscitation equipment (see Appendix 1).

In Long-Term Care (or “LTC”), staff will obtain a backboard (if necessary)
and a CPR resuscitation mask (stored in wall-mounted cases outside each
neighbourhood medication room. NO OTHER EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED.

In all other parts of the facility such as Complex Continuing Care (or “CCC) as
well as Outpatient Services, Ambulatory Care, ABI Program, Outreach, etc.,
staff will obtain a backboard (if necessary) and a CPR resuscitation mask
(stored in wall-mounted cases outside each medication room in CCC and
centrally located within the other service areas). In addition, designated CCC
staff from either Level One or Two in Complex Continuing Care will bring an
Emergency Cart and Defibrillator (see Appendix 1).

6. Prepare the person for CPR by positioning her/him supine on the bed or floor.

If a resident is in bed, roll the head of the bed down, remove the headboard
and place a back board underneath the resident’s upper body to aid with
cardiac compressions.

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 7. Begin CPR (at the Basic Cardiac Life-Support or “BCLS” level).

8. Continue CPR until ambulance arrives and paramedics assume care.

9. Use the Emergency Telephone (and/or dial Switchboard/Security) to announce

“CODE BLUE – ALL CLEAR” three times.

10. In those cases in which the CODE BLUE involved a resident, notify:

• the next-of-kin; and,

• the attending physician.

11. Document the CODE BLUE procedure in the appropriate place (interdisciplinary
notes, Incident Report Form, etc).

If the CODE BLUE involved a resident in Long-Term Care, complete a Ministry of

Health Unusual Occurrence Report form and forward it to the Manager of Long-
Term Care

Expectations for Other Staff Who Respond to a CODE BLUE:

As the CODE BLUE Response Team arrives, staff members will assist the first
person on the scene with the tasks outline above, #1 - #10.

Staff can also assist by doing the following additional tasks:

1. Remove and reassure other residents/onlookers in the area as appropriate.

2. Clear a pathway for ambulance personnel and the transport stretcher.

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The CODE BLUE Response Team

PLEASE NOTE: A CODE BLUE in Long-Term care will be managed differently than
a CODE BLUE in all other parts of the facility (see Appendix 1).

If the CODE BLUE is in Long-Term Care, the following staff will respond:

Nursing Staff:

Day Shifts ( 0700-1500 hours):

One Staff Member from each of pair of neighbourhoods in LTC:

- one Staff Member from Level One LTC
(Ashley Lane & Elmwood)
- one Staff Member from Level Two LTC
(Cherrywood Lane & Linden Court)
- one Staff Member from Level Three East LTC
(Oakridge Falls & Cedarbrook)
- one Staff Member from Level Three West LTC
(Magnolia Court & Mapleview)
- one or both Clinical Practice Leaders

Evening & Night Shifts:

• the Registered Nurse in LTC; and,

• any other available staff working in LTC.

Note: It is assumed that any other nursing personnel (the Nurse Practitioner,
Nursing Managers, the RN in Ambulatory Care, etc.) and/or any other
staff with CPR training who are available will respond to a CODE BLUE
as able at ALL TIMES to increase the speed and effectiveness of the
emergency response.

Religious and Spiritual Care:

All available staff will respond.

Security Services:

On ALL SHIFTS, the Security Guard will proceed to the main entrance (or direct
another staff person to do so) to meet and direct ambulance personnel to the correct
CODE BLUE location.

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If the CODE BLUE is in any part of the facility EXCEPT Long-Term Care
(i.e. Complex Continuing Care, Outpatient Services, Ambulatory Care, ABI Program,
Outreach, etc.) or it involves a staff member/volunteer/visitor in Long Term Care,
the following staff will respond:

Nursing Staff:

Day Shifts ( 0700-1500 hours):

• one Registered Nurse (RN) from Rosewood (Level 1 Rehabilitation);

The RN from Rosewood will bring the Emergency Cart and Defibrillator
to the CODE BLUE location unless the CODE BLUE is on Level 2 CCC
(Sunny Oaks & Whispering Pines).

• one Staff Member from Apple Blossom (Level 1 CCC)

• one Staff Member from Sunny Oaks (Level 2 West CCC);

• one Staff Member from Whispering Pines (Level 2 West CCC).

Evening & Night Shifts:

• one Registered Nurse (RN) from Rosewood (with the Emergency Cart &
Defibrillator);
• one Staff Member from Apple Blossom; and,
• any other available staff working in CCC.

Note: It is assumed that any other nursing personnel (the Nurse Practitioner,
Nursing Managers, the RN in Ambulatory Care, etc.) and/or any other
staff with CPR training who are available will respond to a CODE BLUE
as able at ALL TIMES to increase the speed and effectiveness of the
emergency response.

Religious and Spiritual Care:

All available staff will respond.

Security Services:

On ALL SHIFTS, the Security Guard will proceed to the main entrance (or direct
another staff person to do so) to meet and direct ambulance personnel to the correct
CODE BLUE location.

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APPENDIX 1

RESUSCITATION EXPECTATIONS IN LONG-TERM CARE

According to a March 2002 Policy Directive distributed to Long-Term Care Facility

Administrators, Medical Directors and Advisory Physicians in a March 2002
Memorandum from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care:

“LTC facility staff should initiate CPR at the Basic Cardiac Life-Support (BCLS)
level until emergency/ambulance personnel arrive to initiate Advanced Cardiac
Life-Support (ACLS). […]

Where CPR is determined to be the appropriate action, LTC facility staff should
initiate BCLS as soon as they have determined that an actual cardiac arrest has
occurred. Survival is dependent on the rapidity of emergency response services,
with improved outcomes when CPR is initiated within four minutes of the onset of
cardiac arrest.

BCLS involves the application of artificial ventilation (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

or bagging) and chest compressions. Where CPR is the appropriate response,
facility staff must initiate BCLS within four minutes of the cardiac arrest and continue
until the arrival of emergency/ambulance personnel. […]

ACLS activities include intubation and defibrillation. Long-term facilities are not
expected to provide ACLS in the event of a cardio-pulmonary arrest [emphasis
added]. Once emergency personnel arrive, they can initiate ACLS.”

Given the above policy directive, nursing staff are expected to act as follows:

CODE BLUE in Long Term Care:

Resuscitation will include the provision of BCLS using chest compressions and
artificial ventilation (“mouth-to-mouth”) using a CPR mask.

The appropriate equipment to obtain will include:

• a back board; and,

• CPR mask.
Please Note: The CPR masks at SJHC are one-time use disposable products
that MUST be replaced after any Code Blue procedure.

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CODE BLUE in Complex Continuing Care & the Remainder of the Facility:

The two Emergency Carts and defibrillators (see Appendix 2) in Rehabilitation and
Complex Continuing Care will be stored on:

• Rosewood (Level 1, Rehabilitation); and,

• Sunny Oaks/Whispering Pines (Level 2, CCC).

Resuscitation will include the provision of BCLS using chest compressions and
artificial ventilation (“mouth-to-mouth”) using a CPR mask; however, it will also
include additional medical procedures as ordered by any physician in attendance.

For this reason, the appropriate equipment to obtain will include:

• a back board;
• CPR mask;
• the Emergency Cart (which is stocked with an Ambu bag, oral airways, portable
suction, intravenous equipment, emergency medication, etc.; and,
• the Defibrillator.
Please Note: The CPR masks at SJHC are one-time use disposable products
that MUST be replaced after any Code Blue procedure.

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APPENDIX 2

MAINTENANCE AND USE OF EMERGENCY CARTS & DEFIBRILLATOR

Please note the following details re: the maintenance and use of the emergency carts
and defibrillators that are stored on Rosewood and Sunny Oaks/Whispering Pines:

1. Drugs and equipment must NOT be removed from the emergency carts except
for use in a CODE BLUE (emergency) situation.

2. Drugs and equipment other than those on the emergency cart checklists must
NOT be added.

3. The staff on Rosewood and Sunny Oaks/Whispering Pines are responsible for
checking and/or restocking the Emergency Carts and Defibrillators twice weekly
(Monday and Thursday nights). These checks must be documented (signed and
dated) by the staff member who completes it.

4. Whenever the Emergency Cart/Defibrillator is used at a CODE BLUE, a

Registered Nurse working on the neighbourhood where that cart is stored will
ensure that the Central Supply attendant is notified to remove, clean and restock
the cart and defibrillator.

The Registered Nurse is also responsible for contacting Shopper’s Drug Mart to
replace any medications that were used.

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