Emergency Codes
This code is used when there is a fire or smoke within or outside your department.
What is Code Red?
This type of decorative lighting is permitted under the policy, while battery-operated lights are recommended.
What are LED lights?
This is the location of the nearest portable fire extinguisher to our team’s primary work area.
Where is ______
All cooking equipment must be used for this purpose only.
What is cooking/heating food?
You notice a coworker has placed a door wedge under a fire door because they are carrying supplies back and forth. What would you do?
Remove the door wedge and ensure the fire door is closed. Door wedges or other items used to prop doors open are prohibited.
This code is initiated when a person with diminished mental capacity or who poses a danger to themselves or others leaves their floor or unit without permission or communication.
What is Code Silver?
Decorations may cover no more than this percentage of any wall, and no more than one wall per room or area.
What is 20%?
The location of our Emergency Operations Plan (DEOP).
What is in front of Jose’s office on the filing cabinet?
This feature is required for permitted coffee makers and hot water pots, and they cannot have a hot plate element.
What is an auto-off function?
Your department puts up holiday decorations and someone plugs four sets of decorative lights together to make one long strand. What would you do?
Have the fourth set disconnected. No more than three sets of electrical lights may be plugged together.
This code can be initiated by any staff member, provider, or volunteer who is confronted with or witnesses aggressive behavior.
What is Code Green?
No more than this many sets of electrical lights may be plugged together to create one continuous strand.
What is three?
This fire response acronym reminds staff what to do during a fire or smoke emergency.
What is R.A.C.E.—Rescue, Alarm, Control/Contain, and Extinguish/Evacuate?
This type of cooking equipment is prohibited, even though it may seem convenient for a department potluck or special event.
What are crock pots, air fryers, toaster ovens, grills, toasters, electric griddles, etc.?
A package arrives at your department with no return address, excessive tape, and an unusual odor. A coworker says, “Just open it so we can see what's inside.” What would you do?
Do not touch or open the package. Handle it as little as possible and notify Protective Services immediately.
This code’s three primary response options are Run, Hide, and Fight.
What is Code White?
These are prohibited from being used to hang decorations because they can damage surfaces, equipment, or the physical structure.
What are staples, tacks, nails, or paper tape?
This acronym describes the four steps for using a portable fire extinguisher.
What is P.A.S.S.—Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep?
Before using portable electrical equipment, employees should look for defects such as loose parts, damaged insulation, missing pins, or a crushed outer jacket. If damage could cause injury, the equipment must be taken out of service.
What is a visual inspection?
You notice that an adult patient with diminished mental capacity is no longer on the unit and no one knows where they went. A coworker says, “Let's search the hospital first and call for help if we can't find them.” What would you do?
Do not delay. Initiate Code Silver immediately, call the STAT Line, provide the missing person's location/description, notify the charge nurse or supervisor, and begin the appropriate search.
This code involves a bomb threat or suspicious package. If you receive a suspicious package, handle it as little as possible and immediately notify Protective Services.
What is Code Black?
This is the maximum amount of time an approved extension cord may be used, and electrical cords can never be connected in this manner.
What are 90 days and “daisy chained”?
After identifying any fire or smoke emergency, staff must take these two immediate actions.
What are dial 911 and activating the building fire alarm system?
A department wants to use temporary cooking equipment for a special event. This is the minimum amount of advance notice required for an exception request to be submitted to EOC.
What is 30 calendar days?
A visitor becomes increasingly aggressive toward you. You attempt verbal de-escalation, but the person continues to threaten you. What would you do next?
If de-escalation is unsuccessful, call Protective Services at 210-358-2465 at Main Campus, Robert B. Green, or Texas Diabetes Institute, or 911 at other ambulatory/business locations, and provide the nature of the problem and your location.