Emergency Codes

What are Emergency Codes?

An Emergency Code is a notification of an event that requires immediate action. Different codes are designated by different colours. Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) uses the colour codes set by the Ontario Hospital Association to represent specific emergencies. The use of standardized and uniform codes facilitates the translation of essential information to the responding code teams to ensure optimal response.

SMH aims to provide a safe and secure environment for all patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers. It is possible that while you are visiting SMH you will hear a code called over the public address system.

Hospital Emergency Codes

For the following emergency codes, remain where you are, wait for directions from a hospital staff member, and remain calm.

• Code Green: Evacuation 
• Code Yellow: Missing Person
• Code Amber: Missing Child/Child Abduction
• Code Orange: Disaster
• Code Red: Fire
• Code White: Violent/Behavioural Situation
• Code Purple: Hostage Taking
• Code Brown: In-facility Hazardous Spill
• Code Silver: Person with a Weapon
• Code Black: Bomb Threat/Suspicious Object
• Code Grey: Infrastructure Loss/Failure or External Air Exclusion
• Code Blue: Cardiac Arrest/ Medical Emergency Adult
• Code Pink: Cardiac Arrest/ Medical Emergency Infant/Child