Emergency Codes Overview

Emergency Codes

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 A S S Pull the pin Aim nozzle at base of fire Squeeze handle Sweep nozzle side to side Fire 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

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