STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY COLOR CODES

STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY COLOR CODES

Emergency Code  Translation 
Attention

“Code HICS” Hospital Incident Command System Activated. “Urgent Manager Briefing & Response Planning Required”
All Dept Managers or Lead Persons to report to announced location for incident briefing. Implement Comprehensive
Hospital Incident Command
Emergency Management Plan based upon briefing.
System Activated.
All leadership to report to
nd
BWY 2 Floor Conference Rm

Attention Fire / Smoke Alarm, or Actual Fire Condition: This code may be used in conjunction with code Green.

Determine your proximity to incident.

“Code Red” RACE: Rescue those in danger. Alarm, Pull fire alarm & notify Switchboard. Confine, close all doors. Extinguish, use extinguisher on small fires.
Fire Alarm at:
Prepare to evacuate immediate area as needed. Office staff to exit work area, close all doors, remain in hallway and await
(Announced location) further instruction or all clear. Do not use elevators.
Attention Evacuate Announced Location: (Code may be used in conjunction with other codes).

“Code Green” Immediately evacuate the announced area. Patients should be moved laterally to another Unit on same floor. Or evacuated
to announced location or staging area. Office occupants to evacuate as instructed.
Evacuate:
(Announced location)
Attention Patient Condition Deteriorating:

“Rapid Response” Rapid Response Team to respond to location. Clinical Unit to move crash cart to area in need. Security to relocate visitors
& family from immediate area.
Medical Emergency at:
(Announced location)
Attention Cardiac or Respiratory Emergency:

“Code Blue” Code Blue Team to respond to location. Clinical Unit to move crash cart to area in need. Security to relocate visitors &
family from immediate area.
Medical Emergency at:
(Announced location)
Attention Stroke Emergency
“Code Stroke” Code Stroke Team to respond to location. Clinical Unit to move crash cart to area in need. Security to relocate visitors &
family from immediate area.
Medical Emergency at:
(Announced location)
Attention Pediatric Medical Emergency:
“Code White” Code White Team to respond to location. Clinical Unit to move crash cart to area in need. Security to relocate visitors &
family from immediate area.
Pediatric Medical Emergency
(Announced location)

Attention Child or Infant Missing, or Abducted: (Newborn to 14 yrs/old)

Staff working near an exit should monitor exit for any infant/child departing. Include suspect items that a infant/child could
“Code Amber” be concealed in Ie: (duffle bag, box, suitcase etc). Report all concerns to Operator @ 4911.
Child or Infant Missing from: All available staff to report to Switchboard. Security will issue radios and instruction for staff to watch specific exits & will
(Announced location) provide description of missing infant/child.
Security will notify police & coordinate facility search using available personnel.
Explosive Device, or Bomb Threat:
Attention Stop all non-essential work. Return to your work area. Search work areas for anything that has arrived within the past 2 to 3
“Code Yellow” hours that you can not identify who the item belongs to. Suspect items are described as anything new in the area from
envelope size to tractor trailer size that you do not know who owns the item or item appears “out-of-place”. Do not touch
Bomb Threat – suspect item, Call 4911. Administration to research who in the community would want to cause disruption to the
All Personnel to Review Color organization, Nursing Administration to determine what patient or family member would cause disruption, Human Resource
Code Chart Instructions to evaluate labor issues. Report concerns to 4911. Security/Response Team will conduct a search of all public areas Ie:
(Bldg Perimeter, Parking lots, Lobbies, Waiting Rooms, Public Restrooms, Cafeteria).

Attention Psychiatric Emergency:

Psychiatric Response Team responds to incident; All available Mental Health staff; Psychiatric provider, Mental Health
“Code Gray” Management, Social workers, Activities Therapist, Psychologist and Security. After Hours to include the Nursing Supervisor
Psychiatric Emergency and Hospitalist.
(Announced location)

Attention Person with a Weapon or Hostage Situation: (Code may be used in conjunction with code HICS or Green)

“Code Silver” Evacuate immediate area if safe to do so. Staff to close & lock adjacent area doors on same floor. Adjacent areas on same
floor to shelter in place. Cease hallway traffic on same floor. Security, Mental Health Professional & Police to regain control
Person with a weapon at: of situation.
(Announced Location)
Hazmat Incident or Multi Patient Decontamination Needed. (Code may be used in conjunction with code HICS or Green)

Potentially dangerous chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear spill or release within the community or within the
Attention building.
“Code Orange” If inside the building, staff to stay away from the location.
Hazardous Materials Incident If outside the building, (transportation or train derailment) staff to close all windows & doors. Engineering to shut off HVAC
(Announced Location) systems & seal intake vents if safe to do so. Do not go outside.
Emergency Code  Translation 
If Multi-Patient Decontamination Incident. Emergency Coordinator, Nursing Supervisor or Security to establish code HICS
as needed. All available manpower should respond to announced rally location to assist.
Attention Mass Casualty Incident: (Code may be used in conjunction with code HICS)

“Code Triage” E.D. to ramp up Triage & Registration process. Consider implementing code HICS dependant upon supply & staffing
needs.
Mass Causality Incident
Security to control traffic & E.D access
(Announced Location)

Attention High Wind or Tornado Warning:

Winds in excess of 75 mph expected on site within 10 minutes or less.
“Code Black” Limit persons from exiting the facility, Stay away from large glass windows Ie: (cafeteria & lobbies)
Weather Warning Close room blinds & curtains to minimize glass shrapnel. Close all doors until all clear is announced.
Attention Security Emergency,

Security Needs Help Available staff to respond and demonstrate an organized show of force, or assist as needed.

(Announced Location)

Attention Situation has been resolved.

Normal operations may resume.
“Code Clear”