What is a "Code Black"?

Aneroo, LPN · Jan 30, 2006

I've heard of Code black being a bomb threat, as well as a tornado warning.

The only ones I can think of that we have are

Red- Fire

Blue- Code

Pink- child/infant abduction

Dr. Search- bomb threat

Those are the only ones I can think of, mainly because we get tested on those for yearly JCAHO requirements.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jan 30, 2006

That's so funny I was watching the show last night and couldn't figure out what Code Black was. I guessed it meant terrorists, but really it could be anything violent. And I am just dyyyyyyyyying for Meredith & McDreamy to get back together already! I mean, come on-he does not even really love his wife! :) I'm very addicted to the show & loved it when George stood up for the nurses. Wasn't that hilarious when a few nurses asked him to check on their patients cuz they still cared? I thought that was really nice. :)

live4today, RN · Jan 30, 2006

I've never heard of a "Code Black". :uhoh21: I've only heard of the basic "Code Red, Code Pink, Code Blue, and Code Brown"...that's all that comes to mind right now anyway. :coollook:

I love the show "Grey's Anatomy"! "George" and those puppy-dog eyes of his just get to me everytime I see him. What a cutie! :)

The character "Izzy" was very brave to share that part of her past with that young girl. "Izzy" was just 16 when she gave birth to her dd, and then placed her for adoption for her baby's well-being. That's a pretty unselfish move on her part, and I was proud of her for sharing that with her teenage patient. :)

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 30, 2006

at my hospital:

Code Red= Fire

Code Adam= infant/child abduction

Code Black= Bomb/bomb threat

Code Gray= Severe Weather

Code Orange= Hazardous material spill/release

Code Blue= Medical Emergency (Pediatric)

Code Yellow= Disaster

I'm at a Children's hospital, so for "adult" emergencies, we call them medical assists, but they're not on our list of "official" codes.

crazylilkelly · Jan 30, 2006

Love the show - and I love George! You just want to put him in your pocket and take him home....
"Nope, no way - my father's a truck driver, my mother's a teacher, if I cross that picket line and they find out, I'm dead." - George to Izzy as they look on while Yang dares to cross the nursing picket line

lol----i love George too!!! everytime i see him in a scene it just makes me smile! my 2nd fav definitely is yang. i love her sarcasim.

pugmum · Jan 31, 2006

A code black is a bomb threat for us, too.

silvienurse · Jan 31, 2006

I thought it was "bad weather" tornado etc. etc.

flashpoint · Jan 31, 2006

A lot of the facilities here use it for a bomb threat. For the weather related things, we simply use "tornado warning" or "thunderstorm warning" or whatever it happens to be. Other things I have seen used...

Code Blue - Cardiac / Respiratory Arrest

Code Pink - Pediatric Cardiac / Respiratory Arrest

Code Adam - Secure All Doors and Windows (usually reserved for an abduction, but could be used for other things)

Code Green - Some sort of facility problem like no electricity, no heat, nor ari conditioning, no water, etc...

Code Orange - Something went WAY wrong in radiology

Code Security - EVERYONE who can do so safely respond to the area named

Code Red - Fire / Smoke

Code Yellow - Used very quietly to pass on from triage to treatment that the patient has lice or scabies or something like that

Can't really think of any others...

CHATSDALE · Jan 31, 2006

different facilities have different codes...rough on newbies

i worked in a hospital once who had no codes codes everything was like

dr heart = cardiac emergency

dr red = fire

dr blue = security

several othrs i can't think of just now this was done, so they said, so as not to alarm pts and visitors...but when they called a code and afected personnel dropped what they were doing and ran like the dickens they had to figure out something

Biol20fan · Feb 1, 2006

I absolutly love Grey's Anatomy. It is a great show I wish it was on every night. What I got from watching the previews it looked like a bomb

Me too! And I had the same question, wanting to know what a Code Black was. I just knew that if I came on this board, I'd find the answer!

Stdy2BaNurse · Feb 1, 2006

I love Grays! I have two fellow pre-nursing students that also watch and we were discussing this code black thing. Did you see the preview before Gray's came on? It actually showed Meredith's (I think it was her) hand in a patient and Dr. Burke telling her something to the effect 'don't blink, don't move, don't breathe' or something like that....then it shows him telling someone to tell the charge nurse there is a code black. We are wondering if there is a bomb in the person they were operating on??

Just a thought...and I too really want Meredith & McDreamy back together. I give him points for trying to make it work with his wife, but he sure doesn't look at her like he looks at Meredith!

T

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Feb 1, 2006

In my house "Code Gray" means record Grey's Anatomy because I am not at home. :chuckle :idea: Not really, but it is a good idea, I never want to miss that show.