Emergency Codes Objective: At the end of this self-study module, participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of all emergency codes and their responsibilities during each code. All codes are initiated by calling the Emergency Access Number- 3222 and reporting the emergency code and location. Always use the code words, not the actual emergency!
CODE BLUE Purpose: To provide rapid emergency care to victims of cardiac and/or respiratory arrest. This refers to any patient, visitor, employee, or vendor in need. Procedure: Upon finding a victim in need of CPR or other emergency life saving measures, the staff member should assess unresponsiveness and call a code blue to #3222. When the code is called, a designated RAPID RESPONSE CODE TEAM will respond to the scene. The location closest to the area of the code is to deliver the code cart for Advanced Life Support equipment. While awaiting the arrival of the code cart and code team, the staff member finding the victim should clear the area and initiate Basic Life Support. When the code team arrives, they will assume care for the patient. The staff member who found the patient is to remain at the scene and assist as needed.
CODE GREY Purpose: To initiate a response to any Bomb Threat Emergency.
CODE GREY (continued) Bomb Threat: If an employee receives a call from a person indicating a bomb threat, they should alert a co-worker to call #3222 and report a Code Grey while keeping the caller on the line as long as possible. If no one is available, the employee will call the emergency number and report this bomb threat emergency immediately after hanging up with the caller. The employee should try to get as much information as possible from the caller and should also listen for background noises, characteristics of the caller s voice, and any other key information that may be useful to authorities. If the location of the bomb is disclosed, all employees in that area WILL NOT help search unless specifically directed by proper authority. Anytime an employee finds something that looks suspicious, they SHOULD NOT TOUCH it, but report it immediately. All cell phones, pagers, and radios should be turned off during the threat because any of these could trigger the bomb to explode. Evacuation will occur upon direction of authorized personnel.
CODE ORANGE Purpose: Hazardous Chemical Spill: To initiate a response to any Hazardous Chemical Spill or any bio-terrorism related outbreak Only staff who are properly trained and equipped with the appropriate level of personal protective equipment shall be permitted to clean up hazardous materials, blood, or body fluid spills. Minor Spill: Less than one gallon spill of low toxicity chemical or a spill involving less than ½ cup of highly hazardous chemical, or a blood and body spills. The hazardous material kits located in all departments, are to be utilized to clean up minor spills only. Always reference specific Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for advice on proper spill cleanup. Minor spills represent no hazard to the trained employees or to the environment, and therefore, do NOT signify a CODE ORANGE alert.
CODE ORANGE (continued) Major Spill: Hazardous spills likely to cause unknown effects, injury, and/or illness or harm to the environment. In the event of a major hazardous material spill/release within a hospital department, the following procedures are to be followed: Immediately evacuate the area and close all doors. Notify others not to enter the area and place appropriate signage on the doors. Alert other employees and individuals in the area to evacuate to a safer area until further notice. When in a safe area, dial the emergency number 3222 and report CODE ORANGE, giving the exact location and nature of the spill/release. If potential exposure occurs, initiate first aid measures (i.e., flush with water). those involved are to report to the ER immediately for evaluation and treatment.
CODE PINK Purpose: Response to an Event of Patient Abduction (no longer just infants) Procedure: 1. Investigation: Whenever a patient is suspected to be missing from the assigned room/unit, the staff will respond simultaneously to verify the following: Assure that patient is not just out of the room with family members Verify that patient is not off of the unit for a procedure or treatment Verify that patient is not possibly in another patient s room 2. Action: If the investigation reveals that the patient is missing from the assigned unit, ANY employee may respond by taking the following action: Call #3222, verbalize CODE PINK to the switchboard operator and include all relevant descriptive information about the patient (name, age, race, sex, etc ). Upon hearing CODE PINK over the intercom, every department in the hospital should begin observing designated areas in and around the hospital grounds for anyone or anything suspicious. Staff members should immediately position themselves at their designated code pink observation locations.
CODE PINK (continued) Search Locations: Immediately observe traffic in hallways and lobbies. Proceed to stairwells to observe for anyone leaving the building or hiding. View the surrounding parking areas from the windows on each floor. Employees in the Annex should walk out side and observe any suspicious activity and/or vehicles. Canceling a Code Pink may only occur after the Security Officer and Shift- Administrator have met and verbally agreed that it can be canceled, and personally present their authorization to the switchboard. DO NOT provide any information to the public. Forward any inquiries about the incident to the Incident Command Center located in the Administration Office.
CODE RED Purpose: The response to any fire inside the hospital or on hospital grounds Basic Fire Response Plan A. Response in a Patient Occupied Area Remember R-A-C-E Guidelines: R- Rescue/ Remove persons from danger A- Activate the nearest alarm. Call #3222 and report the exact location of the fire. C- Contain the fire. Close all windows and doors. E- Extinguish and evacuate as needed. Do not use elevators. Always exit the hospital by the stairways.
CODE RED (continued) B. What to do When CODE RED is Announced Over the PA System If you see anyone in hallways, ask them to return to waiting areas or patient rooms until the emergency is over. If people are coming in the hospital from the lobby or admissions/er admissions area, ask them to remain in those areas until the emergency is over. Outpatients, patients, visitors, or vendors evacuate the building as directed by proper authorities. C. Response in a Non-Patient or Unoccupied Patient Area Isolate the fire as much a possible by closing doors, windows, etc. leading to the area Sound the alarm from the nearest pull station and have any other person present call #3222 and state the specific location of the fire.
CODE RED (continued) D. When the Fire is Small Without taking unnecessary chances, the employee discovering the fire should now try to extinguish the fire if it is small with water, a blanket, or a fire extinguisher. When using a fire extinguisher, remember P-A-S-S: P- Pull the Pin A- Aim the nozzle or spout at the base of the fire S- Squeeze the handle to release extinguishing agent S- Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire until extinguisher is empty Never Put a Used Fire Extinguisher Back Up on the Wall. Give the used extinguishers to maintenance to be refilled.
CODE RED (continued) E. Level 2 Response If the department experiencing the Code Red needs additional assistance after the initial response from other staff on the same floor, a staff member should call the switchboard operator and request additional assistance. The switchboard will announce, All available personnel to (department or room number) to assist with Code Red. This request for help should be made to assist with removing patients and charts to a safe area, or other assistance deemed necessary by the nurse in charge. (Horizontal or Vertical Evacuation) When this announcement is made, all personnel not immediately involved in critical patient care are to move without delay to the Location as directed by Supervisory personnel.
CODE RED (continued) F. Evacuation Information Only evacuate patients when specific direction is given from maintenance, Shift Administrator, or fire chief. Emergency and evacuation maps that clearly mark and identify entry/exit points are located near the elevator lobbies and throughout the hospital. Know Your Evacuation Route. During an emergency, initial evacuation of persons in immediate danger must take precedence over all other actions. Code 1-5-0 will be announced over the intercom to indicate an all clear signal and that the fire emergency is over.
CODE TRIAGE Purpose: many A Code Triage call signifies that the ED needs extra staffing to meet the needs of a disaster or emergency involving injured individuals. Code Yellow is not heard over the intercom; however, it is utilized to activate the Trauma Team for smaller disaster emergencies that only require minimal staffing. (Staffing includes OR/Anesthesia & Recovery Room Personnel) Areas of Code Triage: 1. Triage 2. Emergency Dept. Locations 3. Walking Wounded 4. Personnel Holding Pool 5. Family Waiting Area 6. Emergency Incident Command Center
CODE TRIAGE (continued) 1. Triage- Located in the ER area where victims are brought in. ER physicians, nurses, and other hospital staff will be assessing the victims to determine the extent of their injuries. Others remain in the ER for observation and treatment. Additionally, some victims are transported directly to the OR to handle life/limb saving emergencies. Patient Triage Classifications Red (emergent)- Yellow (urgent)- Green (non-urgent)- Black- (DOA) Serious or critical, need treatment within the hour Moderate illness or injury needing ER evaluation Walking Wounded, minimal injury or illness Dead on Arrival 2. Walking Wounded- This area receives victims with less critical injuries. Physicians, nurses, and other personnel are assigned to this area to render treatment. The location of the Walking Wounded area(s) will be determined at the time of emergency.
CODE TRIAGE (continued) 3. Personnel Holding Pool- Located in the Back Hallway across from Mail Room. At least one representative from each department reports to this area for further instructions. Some employees will be assigned specific duties while others will report back to their department to perform specific duties. Personnel called in to work must respond to personnel holding as well. Laboratory, Respiratory Therapy, Radiology, and OR staff will report directly to the ER to assist in the care and treatment of the injured. 4. Family Holding Area- Located in Cafeteria/Dining Hall. Families and loved ones are directed here to await information regarding the victims. Hospital staff will be assigned to this area to help keep them informed, give support, and offer any other assistance they might have need for. 5. Emergency Incident Control Center- Located in the Administration Offices. A member from Administration will man this area where information regarding the disaster victims and situation will be handled and given to the media as indicated. Any media personnel seen in any of the above areas is to be directed to Administration. Notify security personnel present to assist if needed.
CODE TRIAGE (continued) Other Considerations: Crowd and Traffic Control will be monitored by security personnel from local and out of town law enforcement as needed. Disaster Call Rosters are located in each department. These rosters are to be updated twice a year and a copy should be send to the Shift Administrator s office when updated. Upon implementation of a Code Triage, each department should check off on the roster those employees already working and send the roster to the Shift Administrator s office where employees will be called in as needed. If you are working during a Code Triage, you are NOT authorized to leave the hospital until you get verification from your immediate supervisor that your help is not required. If you are called in to work during a Code Triage, BRING YOUR NAME BADGE and report to the Personnel Pool Holding Area to clock in. Upon leaving, report to the Personnel Pool Holding Area to sign-out. Do not use time clocks
Severe Weather Alert Warnings (Hurricanes) Purpose: The Hurricane Preparedness plan establishes guidelines for action in response to threat of hurricane force winds and/or water damage from a hurricane. Beginning 72 hours prior to hurricane landfall, preparations will begin with the possibility of discharging or transferring patients, reviewing staffing and scheduling arrangements, assessing routine admissions and the OR schedule. 48 hours and 24 hours prior to landfall, procedures are in place for assigned departmental responsibilities, as well as staffing issues. Staffing: Hurricane Threat Team assignments will be made by department heads to classify employees as either Team A (immediate responders) or Team B (relief responders). Please refer to the Emergency Preparedness Notebook for further information.
Severe Weather Alert Warnings (Tornados) The Safety/Security Department and Administrative staff members monitor Severe Weather on a continuous basis. Communication concerning weather alert status will be the joint responsibility of the switchboard and Shift Administrator. During a tornado watch and tornado warning, each department has specific responsibilities to carry out. A tornado watch and/or warning will not be announced over the intercom, but announced through in-house communications. BE AWARE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. When a Severe Weather Alert Warning is announced over the intercom, everything should already be in place and prepared for the emergency, as there will only be a few moments to react before the tornado may hit. DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF WINDOWS OR IN HALLWAYS due to the possibility of glass being blown out or shattered and causing injuries. KNOW WHERE YOUR DESIGNATED SAFE AREAS are in your department. All staff are responsible for assisting patients and visitors to safe areas. BE PREPARED, KNOW WHAT TO DO BEFORE IT HAPPENS
Interruption of Services Power- upon loss of external electricity sources, emergency generators will be switched on immediately. All hall lights and red emergency outlets on this power supply Fuel- All boilers and kitchen utilities are on natural gas with a contract guarantee of continuous supply from Georgia Power. Communications- The switchboard is operated on the emergency power system. The radio paging system is also available as are handheld radio communications by agreement with the Wayne Ambulance Service, Civil Defense, County Fire and State Forestry Service. Handheld radios for in house communications during a disaster are also available. Water- A deep well on hospital grounds is maintained and checked regularly by the State Department of Health. In case of loss of water service, a line is provided for continuous hookup capable of supplying all hospital needs. Heating and Cooling- Boilers and blowers for temperature control are on emergency power. Heating capability is no problem and cooling can be maintained by use of the blower system on the generator. Oxygen Supply- Oxygen supply is guaranteed on a continuous supply basis by contract. Drugs- Contract with local pharmacies and other area hospitals are in effect, to be transported by Georgia State Patrol in the event of an emergency. Food- Four to five day supply of food, with an additional two-day supply in freezing and cooling to be utilized first, since the power to freezers and coolers are not supplied by the generator. Patient Care Items- General stores are equipped to supply patient items for routine or emergency situations for five days without going to an outside source.