Safety Codes

INTRODUCTION

Todays healthcare workforce is highly

mobile
Physician, nurses, and support staff
often work in more than one facility
sometimes within the same day!
Patient Safety!!!
Codes that trigger an emergency
response should be standardized to
help ensure quick action.

Areas of Safety
Patient Safety
Environment of Care
Employee Safety
Disaster Readiness
Radiation Safety

When an emergency occurs, clear

communication is important for quick
response to protect patients and staff.
This standardization:
Improves safety of care to patients.
Reduces duplication of work by one
standard in which physicians and staff
are trained.
Provides consistency for staff and
physicians making the delivery of care
less complex and easier to provide.

How is an emergency code

called?

The code should be called in a three-part

statement to include
Alert category
Specific code description
Location of emergency

Example: Medical alert, cardiac arrest,

Ground floor.
Additional information or instructions can be
provided if known---for example, the description
of a missing person.

What are the benefits of using

plain-language when calling
emergency codes

It reduces confusion for health care professionals

working in more than one hospital.
It allows patients and visitors to better understand
what is happening and to respond in a manner that
will help (rather than hinder) the response of
professionals.
It helps law enforcement officers and emergency
rescue staff better understand what is happening.
It can improve timeliness of response to an emergency
and can assure that the right people respond to the
emergency.

To REPORT EMERGENCIES
Main Hospital
Page the
emergency code
Give location
External
Buildings
Call 9
Report the type
of emergency
Give building address

Codes are organized into four major

categories:
Facility alerts
Weather alerts
Security alerts
Medical alerts
Within each category are specific code
descriptors, such as fire alarm or missing
person.

Facility Alert Code

Examples

Evacuation

Fire alarm

Hazardous spill

Weather Alert Codes

Examples
Flash flood warning

Code Blue
Medical Emergency
Purpose: To provide
an appropriate
response to a
suspected or eminent
cardiopulmonary
arrest or a medical
emergency for an
adult patient.

E
M
ER
GE
NC
Y

CODE BLUE
Cardiac Arrest

Code Pink
Infant Abduction
Purpose: To provide
an appropriate
response in the event
of the abduction, or
attempted abduction
of an infant from the
facility.

INFANT/CHILD
ABDUCTION

CODE PINK

Did you know that the abductor

almost always visits the area
prior to the abduction?
When an Amber Alert occurs be
aware
and:
Watch the hallways/stairs in your
area
Watch for suspicious
people/activity
Dial 9 and keep the person in
sight

CODE RED Code Red

Fire
Fire or Visible Smoke

Purpose: To provide an appropriate

response in the event of an actual or
suspected fire in order to protect life,
property and vital services

Know What to Do in a
CODE RED
AT FIRE SCENE
R.A.C.E.
Rescue
Alarm; Dial 9
Close Doors
Extinguish (or
Evacuate)

In a CODE RED
MOVE EQUIPMENT on
wheels in the
hallways to one side
Ensure exits, extinguishers,
and
hallways are clear
Respond even in a drill

CODE RED
(fire)
Always know the LOCATION of:
Fire extinguishers
Fire alarm pull stations
Fire exits

Fire Extinguisher Use

Operation of a Fire
Extinguisher:
P = Pull the pin
A = Aim at the base of the fire
S = Squeeze the handle
S = Sweep from side to side

Emergency Preparedness
Evacuation
If patients must be evacuated to an alternate care
site,
send any necessary medications, and equipment
with
them.
The next few slides give information on the
Evacuted
method to evacuate patients.
Evacusted is available in limited areas. For further
information, please contact the nursing unit.

DISASTER.INTERNAL or
EXTERNAL
HCA: CODE D
TENET: CODE INTERNAL/
EXTERNAL TRIAGE
UMC: HICS (Hospital Incident
Command System)
WBAMC: CODE TRIAGE

Workplace Violence)
Use the term Dr. Heloise in a sentence
to
alert co-workers that you may need
assistance or feel threatened.
If you are a recipient of a Dr. Heloise
statement, call Security immediately

(Radiation Disaster)

If a radiation spill has occurred

internally, notify Xray, immediately.
Stay at least 6 ft away from the spill
Secure the area to keep others out of
danger
Call Code Yellow only if directed to do
so.
If victims of a radiation disaster arrive to
the hospital, follow the Radiation
Disaster Policy

Do I know the emergency

codes and their definitions?
Do I know what number to
dial and when it is appropriate
to call each emergency code?
Do I know my roles and
responsibilities for each
emergency code?