- The document provides information on various emergency codes used at a hospital, including Code Red for fire, Code Blue for medical emergencies, Code Pink/Adam for infant/child abductions, Code Orange for bomb threats, STAT-13 for violent situations, and codes for weather alerts and lifting assistance. - It describes the appropriate response for each code, such as evacuating for Code Red, responding with medical equipment for Code Blue, and searching the premises for Code Orange. Staff are instructed to follow directives from emergency services and remain with patients during weather alerts. - Standard procedures are outlined, like closing doors and using RACE (rescue, alarm, confine, extinguish) for fires or

1. Fire Safety
and other emergency codes

2. FOR ALL EMERGENCIES

3. Emergency Codes
o After dialing the emergency number – 5555 – state
calmly and clearly the location and the name of the code
that needs to be called
o The operator will then page the code and the location
overhead three times and (depending on the code) will
continue paging it until the appropriate help has arrived.
o The Emergency Codes are listed on the back of your
Associate ID Badge.

4. Code Red
o Fire
o Do Not Use Elevators
o Follow Departmental Plan
o Fire doors close throughout the hospital
• These doors close automatically and should remain closed until
the Code Red is cleared
o In patient care areas:
• Close all doors
• Place a pillow in front of the door of empty rooms so that time is
not wasted attempting to rescue patients that are not there in an emergency

5. Code Red
o The CODE RED page is probably the most often heard
emergency page in the hospital.
o This is because we are mandated to test the alarms.
o The CODE RED page is heard day and night for this reason – fire
drills are held each quarter on all shifts.
o In the event of an actual fire, you would first rescue anyone in the
immediate area and then dial 5555 or activate the nearest manual
fire alarm device.
o Only when the danger is over is the code cleared.

6. *R*A*C*E*
Rescue
Alarm
Confine
Extinguish/Evacuate
o This acronym helps to remember the steps to take in the event
of a fire

7. Rescue
o When you discover a fire, rescuing people in immediate
danger is top priority.

8. Alarm
o Sound the alarm and call your emergency response
number with the precise location of the fire.

9. Confine
o Close all doors, windows and chutes.
o Stuff damp towels under doors to prevent smoke from
spreading
o Extinguish a small fire with the appropriate fire
extinguisher or smother it.

10. Evacuate
o Remove any person in immediate danger.
o Direct patients not in immediate danger.
o If necessary route patients away from the site of the fire.
o Transport by appropriate method.
--Ambulate --Wheelchair --Stretcher
o Leave a pillow outside empty patient rooms to signify
evacuation is completed.

11. Isolating the Fire
o After rescue from the fire location is completed, close the door
and do not re-open except to extinguish the fire.
o Before re-entering a room in the fire area, feel the surface of
the door for excessive heat.
o If it is hot to the touch, do not re-enter. Place a wet towel at the
base of the door to help seal the opening.
o Close all doors in the area adjacent to the fire and keep closed
except to evacuate patients or to provide necessary immediate
patient care.

12. How To Use A Portable Fire
Extinguisher
P Pull the pin
A Aim the extinguisher at the base of the Flame
S Squeeze trigger while holding the extinguisher
upright
S Sweep the extinguisher from side to side,
covering the area of the fire

13. Code Blue
o Cardiopulmonary Arrest
o Code Blue Team Responds

14. Code Blue
o The operator will continue paging CODE BLUE every 10
seconds until instructed to discontinue the page
o Notify the operator as soon as the code team is
assembled to discontinue the overhead page
o To do this dial 5555 and state “Stop paging the code.”

15. Code Blue
o If a code is called mistakenly, Notify the operator as soon as
possible.
o To do this dial 5555 and state “Code Blue all clear”
o The operator will page “Code Blue all clear”
o When a code is cleared there is no longer any need to respond.
Do not clear a code unless the situation has been resolved and
help is no longer needed.
o Pressing the CODE BLUE button in the patient’s room can also
activate a CODE BLUE when dialing the phone is not an option.

16. Code Pink and Code Adam
o Code Pink: Infant
o Code Adam: Child Abduction

17. Code Pink and Code Adam
o It is important to remember that during this situation, no one is
allowed to enter or leave the building unless excused by law
enforcement.
o Associates are encouraged not to speak to the press.
o Each station has duty cards located in the red emergency box
that direct actions to be taken during a CODE PINK (same
cards are used during a CODE ADAM.
o These cards are used to assist in monitoring all outside exits
and parking lots.

18. Code Orange
o Plan of Threat of Explosion by Bomb or Other Device

19. Threat
o Upon receiving a threat alleging the presence of a bomb
in the hospital, the switchboard operator or any person
receiving the threat must remain calm and do the
following:
• If a caller, keep the caller talking.
• Alert a nearby associate and have them contact the hospital
operator (dial 5555) immediately telling the operator that a
bomb threat is in progress

20. Code Orange
o The associate receiving the call attempts to ascertain
pertinent information from the caller using the threatening
telephone call checklist to take the following information:
• Bomb location
• What causes the bomb to explode
• What does the bomb look like
• Why did you place the bomb
• What is your name and address

21. Code Orange
o Try to note as much information about the caller as
possible such as:
• Voice characteristics (male/female, any
accent, lisp, drunk, calm, loud, slow)
• Background noise (street sounds, home, bar, etc.)
o If a written threat, contact the hospital operator (dial
5555) immediately telling the operator that a bomb threat
is in progress.

22. Notification
o Upon receiving directions from the president or
designee, the switchboard operator announces three
times over the public address system:
• “Attention Please, All Associates, Code Orange Is Now In
Effect.”
o Engineering notifies the police department unless
otherwise instructed by Administration.

23. Notification
o After the basic details are provided, the president or
designee makes all necessary decisions and issues
orders regarding a search of the premises.
o During bomb threat search procedures, all possible
precautions are taken to prevent unnecessary alarming
of patients and visitors.

24. General Search
o The extent of the search is determined by the president
or designee in consultation with the police department.
o If police are involved in the search, they are
accompanied by a person designated by the president
who is familiar with the area.
o In the event the caller indicates the location of the
bomb, that area is searched first.

25. General Search
o Engineering personnel search hallways, gift
shop, restrooms, stairwells, elevators, utility closets, and
waiting rooms.
o Hospital personnel involved in the search are instructed
that their mission is only to look for and report suspicious
objects – not to move, or touch the object or anything
attached there to or in the immediate area.
o Dietary personnel search the cafeteria.

26. General Search
o Supervisory and office personnel search their immediate
area.
o Patient areas are searched by nursing personnel.
o As the search of each area is completed and no
suspicious objects are found, the appointed person in
charge of the area calls the control center stating the
area or department, followed by “search completed, area
clear.”

27. Bomb Discovered
o If a suspected bomb or suspicious object is found:
• Do not touch, move or jar the suspicious object or
anything thereto.
• Remain calm and alert; prevent unnecessary alarming
of patients, visitors, or other employees.
• Clear the area of all personnel but do not try to
evacuate until notified by administration.
• Immediately telephone hospital operator (dial 5555).
Report suspected bomb location, time found, and your
name and title.

28. STAT-13
o Potential violent or threatening situation:
o All male associates Respond

29. STAT-13
o This code is for a potential violent or threatening situation. The
keyword here is potential.
o Do not wait until the situation becomes violent to call this code.
o Get help immediately.
o Male associates respond to this code as well as security
officers when on duty.
o An incident report must be filed on all STAT 13 pages.

31. Doctor Strong
o Lifting Assistance

32. Dr. Strong
o This code is paged when immediate lifting assistance is
needed.
o This code is generally reserved for situations where it is
necessary to move someone from the floor that cannot
assist with this effort, but may be used in any emergency
situation where heavy lifting is required.
o Male associates respond to this page. An easy way to
remember this is “a call for Dr. Strong is a call for
muscles.”

33. Weather Alert
o “Weather Watch” or “Tornado
Warning” is the code for inclement
weather threatening the hospital.
o This is called when a potential
severe weather situation has been
identified by the National Weather
Service.

34. Weather Alert
o When White County Medical Center is in danger from
severe weather, the president or designee continuously
monitors the weather along with local authorities and
local weather stations, and National Weather Service.
o “Weather Watch” is announced in the event of a
Thunderstorm/Tornado Watch.
o Tornado Warning is announced when a tornado warning
is imminent to the hospital.

35. Weather Alert
o Weather is also monitored using a radio located in Emergency
Department or Internet services of KARK by designated
associates only.
o Only the president or designee can order and/or cancel a
“Weather Watch” or “Tornado Warning”
o All associates remain on duty until released by Command
Center.
o A Red Alert is called when a disaster is confirmed and the red
alert tree from the “External Disaster” instructions is followed.

36. General Response
o Close all blinds and drapes
o Stay as far away from windows and glass doors as
possible
o All associates remain in patient care areas to ensure
patient safety
o Assign associates to control the potential visitor influx by
setting up Hubach Conference Center

37. Patient Area Response
o All Areas:
• Move patients as far from windows as possible, or in
corridors if accessible, and cover with a blanket
• Keep visitors with patient
• Maintain calm, efficient environnent
• Safest areas are small, windowless rooms near the center
of the building
o Safest areas include: Bathrooms, Corridors, Small rooms
around the nurses’ stations

38. Weather Alert
o All associates remain on duty until released by Command
Center.
o Either an “All Clear” or “Red Alert” will be paged.
o A red alert is called if a disaster is confirmed

39. General Response Under a
Weather Alert
o Stay in the center of the building.
o If responsible for patient care, stay with the patients.
o If non-direct care giver, move immediately to the Hubach
Conference Center.
o If responding from off duty, follow directive of the
Emergency Control Center.
o Await “All Clear” announcement.

40. Visitors
o Encourage all visitors to remain inside the building.
o They may either stay with their patient or move within the
center core of the hospital such as the “Canteen” area or
other waiting areas on the North Campus and to the
center of the building on the South Campus.
o If all available waiting areas are full the Hubach Center is
made available.