"Code Blue" "Code Black," What Does "Code" Mean?
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
"Code Red" "Code Blue", "Code Black"...people sometimes wonder what these terms
mean if they happen to hear them used in a
hospital (or more likely, hear them
used on a TV series about doctors). The ABC TV series "Grey's Anatomy" seems to
have sparked a renewed interest in the topic of "Codes" in medicine with their
2006 episode entitled "Code Black".
Technically, there's no formal definition for a "Code", but doctors often use
the term as slang for a cardiopulmonary arrest happening to a patient in a
hospital or clinic, requiring a team of providers (sometimes called a "code
team") to rush to the specific location and begin immediate resuscitative
efforts.
Each hospital or clinic can decide how it wishes to manage and inform staff
of potential emergencies. Many institutions use colors (e.g. "Code Red", "Code
Blue") to identify specific types of emergencies. "Code Red" and "Code Blue" are
both terms that are often used to refer to a cardiopulmonary arrest, but other
types of emergencies (for example bomb threats,
terrorist activity, child
abductions, or mass casualties) may be given "Code" designations too. Colors,
numbers, or other designations may follow a "Code" announcement to identify the
type of emergency that is occurring.
Some hospitals announce emergencies ("Codes") over a public address system,
while others just alert the necessary personnel via a pager system. Also, the
use of the term "Code" to signify that an emergency is occurring is not limited
to medical practice. Other institutions, such as office buildings, schools, or
government facilities may use "Code" designations to alert personnel that an
emergency is occurring.
In summary, there are no standard definitions or
conventions for the use of "Code" designations. While "Code blue" does refer to
a cardiopulmonary arrest at many hospitals, it doesn't necessarily mean the same
thing everywhere. But even if you aren't sure about the meaning of announcements
you may hear, keep in mind that every hospital or institution has its own
policies and conventions for notification of personnel in the event of emergencies, and the doctors and staff
are trained to recognize and respond appropriately to these announcements.
For related information, please see the following articles:
Last Editorial Review: 2/1/2006
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