code

(kōd )

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[Fr. code, fr. L. codex, book]

1. A collection of rules and regulations or specifications.
2. A set of symbols that communicate information to people who understand them or conceal it from those who do not.
3. A form of message used in transmitting information in a hospital, esp. when the information is broadcast over a public address system. For instance, “code blue” or “code 9” could indicate a particular type of emergency to an emergency care team. SEE TABLE: Hospital Emergency Codes; SEE: code cart; SEE: code drug
4. A system of symbols that represents information contained in a computer data bank.
Hospital Emergency Codes

Type of Emergency	Commonly Used Hospital Paging Terminologies	Services Needed
Adult needing life support	Code Blue; Code 99	Advanced cardiac life support
Bioterrorism alert	Code Zebra	Treat as Mass Casualty Incident; notify Department of Homeland Security and State Health Department
Bomb threat	Code Black; Code Yellow; Code 10	Evacuation of building; security staff; local police and fire departments
Doctor needed urgently	Code Green	Presence of available medical staff—often, Emergency Department or Intensive Care Unit physicians
Fire in the facility	Code Red	Available maintenance and security staff; fire extinguishers
Infant abduction	Code Stork (Sometimes called Code Pink, but see below)	Blockade of all entries to and exits from the hospital
Infant requiring life support	Code Pink	Practitioners trained in neonatal or pediatric life support
Multiple Casualty Incident	Code Triage; Code Amber	All available personnel to assist in triaging and treating the sick and wounded; hospital-wide emergency strategies implemented
Potentially violent person on premises	Code Strong; Doctor Strong; Code Grey; Code Silver; Code North	Show of force by security personnel and others; hospital supervisor

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