ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING
NAGA CITY
COMMUNICATION PLAN
UNIVERSAL
EMERGENCY CODE
SYSTEM
EMERGENCY CODES ARE COLOR-
CODED INDICATORS USED IN
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO ALERT
ALL STAFF MEMBERS OF
POTENTIAL ISSUES ARISING IN A
FACILITY.
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY AND
DISASTER CODES ARE BEING USED
IN HOSPITALS WORLDWIDE TO
CONVEY ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
QUICKLY TO STAFF WHILE
PREVENTING STRESS OR PANIC
AMONG PATIENTS AND VISITORS
IN THE HOSPITALS.
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY AND DISASTER CODES
ARE BEING USED FOR TWO PURPOSES:
1. TO CONVEY NEED TO BE
ALERT OR READY
2. TO CONVEY TYPE OF EMERGENCY
OR DISASTER OCCURRING IN THE
HOSPITAL THAT NEEDS A
CORRESPONDING RESPONSE.
THE FIRST CODE ALERT SYSTEM
PROVIDED BY A.O. 182 S. 2001 WAS
DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH HOSPITALS GIVEN
THAT “MOST EMERGENCIES AND
DISASTERS ARE UNPREDICTABLE
THE CODE ALERT SYSTEM OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS A MECHANISM
FOR THE PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
DURING EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS
WHICH DESCRIBES THE CONDITIONS THAT
GOVERN THE EXPECTED LEVELS OF
PREPARATION AND THE MOST SUITABLE
RESPONSES BY ALL CONCERNED,
PARTICULARLY DURING MASS CASUALTY
SITUATIONS.
THERE IS A STANDARDIZED CODE
ALERT SYSTEM WHICH CONSISTS
OF CODE WHITE, CODE BLUE, AND
CODE RED.
THE INTEGRATED CODE ALERT SYSTEM OF 2008
(ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2008 – 0024)
DESCRIBES THE CONDITIONS FOR ADOPTING
THE ALERT STATUS, THE HUMAN RESOURCE
REQUIREMENTS
AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS (E.G., LOGISTICS)
WITH THE PROCEDURE IN IMPLEMENTING THE
CODE ALERT.
GUIDELINES IN IMPLEMENTING THE CODE
ALERT
THE HOSPITAL CODE ALERT SHALL BE DECLARED
BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH OR BY THE
DIRECTOR OF HEMS FOR EXTERNAL EMERGENCIES;
BY THE MEDICAL CENTER CHIEFS; CHIEFS OF
HOSPITAL; HHEMS COORDINATOR; OR HEAD OF
THE DISASTER COMMITTEE OF THE HOSPITAL
EMERGENCIES WITHIN THEIR CATCH MENT AREA
CHIEFS OF HOSPITAL/MEDICAL CENTER TO
AUTOMATICALLY DECLARE CODE WHITE DURING
NATIONAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY
WITH THE POTENTIAL OF AN MCI.
• EACH HOSPITAL SHALL PREPARE ITS OWN
PROCEDURES IN DECLARING AND LIFTING THE
CODE.
THE ALERT LEVEL IS RAISED, LOWERED OR
SUSPENDED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH,
DIRECTOR OF HEMS FOR EXTERNAL EMERGENCIES
AND NATIONAL EVENTS; THE RESPECTIVE MEDICAL
CENTER
CHIEFS/CHIEFS OF HOSPITAL OR THEIR
DESIGNATES FOR EMERGENCIES WITHIN THEIR
CATCHMENT AREA
CONDITIONS TO RAISE OR SUSPEND
THE ALERT LEVEL DEPENDS ON THE
THREAT – WHETHER IT IS INCREASED
OR IS NO LONGER PRESENT.
ARRIVAL OF PATIENTS IN THE
HOSPITALS WARRANTS THE RAISING
OF THE ALERT LEVEL; LIKEWISE ALERT
CAN BE SUSPENDED WHEN NO
SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT IS MONITORED
AND THE HAZARD OR CONDITION
(TYPHOON, ELECTION, BOMBING, ETC.)
IS FINISHED AND/OR CONTAINED.
CODE BLUE, CODE RED, CODE
BLACK: DEFINITION OF
HOSPITAL COLOR CODES
CODES ALLOW TRAINED HOSPITAL
PERSONNEL TO RESPOND QUICKLY
AND APPROPRIATELY TO VARIOUS
EVENTS. THE USE OF CODES CAN ALSO
HELP PREVENT CONCERN OR PANIC BY
VISITORS AND PEOPLE BEING
TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE MOST COMMON HOSPITAL CODES
ARE CODE BLUE, CODE RED, AND CODE
BLACK, THOUGH USE OF THESE CODES
ISN’T STANDARDIZED IN OUR
COUNTRY
CRITICAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY
CODE BLUE IS THE MOST UNIVERSALLY
RECOGNIZED EMERGENCY CODE. CODE
BLUE MEANS THERE IS A MEDICAL
EMERGENCY OCCURRING WITHIN THE
HOSPITAL.
THE TEAM IS COMPRISED OF:
DOCTORS
NURSES
A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST
A PHARMACIST
COMMON REASONS FOR ACTIVATING A
CODE BLUE INCLUDE:
CARDIAC ARREST LIKE A HEART ATTACK OR
DANGEROUS ARRHYTHMIA
RESPIRATORY ARREST (WHEN SOMEONE
STOPS BREATHING)
WHEN SOMEONE BECOMES SEVERELY
CONFUSED, NOT ALERT, OR SHOWS SIGNS OF
STROKE
SUDDEN AND SEVERE DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE
CODE RED TYPICALLY MEANS
THERE IS A FIRE OR SMOKE
WITHIN THE HOSPITAL. A
CODE RED MAY BE
ACTIVATED IF SOMEONE
SMELLS OR SEES SMOKE OR
FLAMES.
CODE BLACK MOST OFTEN INDICATES A
BOMB THREAT. CODE BLACK MAY BE
ACTIVATED IF THERE HAS BEEN A
THREAT MADE TO THE FACILITY FROM
AN INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SOURCE, OR
IF STAFF OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS HAVE IDENTIFIED A POSSIBLE
BOMB IN OR NEAR THE FACILITY.
EVENTS NEEDING AN IMMEDIATE
RESPONSE
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
CODES HOSPITALS MAY USE TO
INDICATE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
THESE CODES CAN VARY MORE WIDELY
FROM FACILITY TO FACILITY, SO ONE
COLOR MAY HAVE DIFFERING OR
CONFLICTING MEANINGS AT
DIFFERENT HOSPITALS.
SOME OF THE MORE WIDELY USED
CODES IN HOSPITALS INCLUDE:
CODE PINK: INFANT OR CHILD ABDUCTION
CODE ORANGE: HAZARDOUS MATERIAL OR
SPILL INCIDENT
CODE SILVER: ACTIVE SHOOTER
CODE VIOLET: VIOLENT OR COMBATIVE
INDIVIDUAL
CODE YELLOW: DISASTER
CODE BROWN: SEVERE
WEATHER
CODE WHITE: EVACUATION
CODE GREEN: EMERGENCY
ACTIVATION
BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CODES ARE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE
SAFETY OF PEOPLE INSIDE A
HOSPITAL. HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES,
INCLUDING DOCTORS, UNDERGO
EXTENSIVE TRAINING TO RESPOND
TO EACH OF THESE EVENTS,
ALLOWING THEM TO SAVE LIVES.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY BENEFITS OF A
CODE SYSTEM IS THAT TRAINED
HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES KNOW TO
RESPOND TO ANY GIVEN EMERGENCY
WITHOUT ALARMING THOSE BEING
TREATED AND HOSPITAL VISITORS.
PANICKED BYSTANDERS CAN HINDER
THE RESPONSE EFFORTS OF EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS.
BENEFITS OF STANDARDIZED
COMMUNICATION
EMERGENCY CODES ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY OF
EVERYONE INSIDE A HOSPITAL. THEY
ALLOW DOCTORS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES TO
RESPOND QUICKLY AND
EFFECTIVELY TO SAVE LIVES IN
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
BEFORE A DISASTER
[Link] A LIST OF EMERGENCY CONTACTS
(FIRE, POLICE, AMBULANCE, ETC.) IN
YOUR CELL PHONE AND NEAR YOUR HOME
PHONE.
[Link] ON A FAMILY MEETING PLACE,
BOTH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUT
OF TOWN, IN CASE YOU CANNOT GET IN
TOUCH OR ARE UNABLE TO GO HOME.
PROGRAM “I.C.E” (IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY) NUMBERS INTO
YOUR PHONE AND FAMILY
MEMBERS’ PHONES. IF SOMEONE
IS INJURED, EMERGENCY
PERSONNEL CAN USE THESE
NUMBERS TO NOTIFY FRIENDS
AND FAMILY
PREPARE A FAMILY CONTACT SHEET
WITH THE NAMES, ADDRESSES AND
PHONE NUMBERS OF IMPORTANT
CONTACTS. INCLUDE AN OUT-OF-TOWN
CONTACT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO GET
IN TOUCH WITH WHEN THEY ARE
UNABLE TO CONTACT OTHER FAMILY
MEMBERS. OFTEN, DURING DISASTERS,
IT’S EASIER TO MAKE LONG-DISTANCE
CALLS THAN LOCAL CALLS.
CREATE A CONTACT CARD FOR EACH
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. KEEP
THESE CARDS IN A PURSE, WALLET
OR CHILD’S BACKPACK. INCLUDE AN
EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME AND
NUMBER, AN OUT-OF-TOWN
CONTACT NAME AND NUMBER, A
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE
AND ANY OTHER IMPORTANT
INFORMATION.
BE SURE EVERY FAMILY
MEMBER HAS EMERGENCY
PHONE NUMBERS AND A CELL
PHONE.
TEACH CHILDREN HOW AND
WHEN TO CALL 911 FOR HELP.
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN YOUR
FAMILY KNOWS HOW TO SEND A
TEXT MESSAGE. TEXTS CAN
OFTEN GET AROUND NETWORK
DISRUPTIONS WHEN PHONE
CALLS CANNOT.
DURING A DISASTER
IF YOU HAVE A LIFE-THREATENING
EMERGENCY, CALL 911.
AVOID MAKING PHONE CALLS
EXCEPT IN SERIOUS EMERGENCIES. IF
YOU MUST MAKE A CALL, KEEP THE
CONVERSATION BRIEF.
FOR NON-EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATION, USE TEXT MESSAGES,
EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA INSTEAD OF
MAKING PHONE CALLS. TOO MANY
PHONE CALLS CAN CAUSE NETWORK
CONGESTION, MEANING PEOPLE IN
REAL, LIFE-THREATENING
EMERGENCIES CAN’T GET HELP.
KEEP YOUR OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT
UPDATED ON YOUR LOCATION AND
CONDITION.
AFTER A DISASTER
AFTER A DISASTER, CALL
AND MESSAGE THE FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT YOU ARE
“SAFE AND WELL”
UPDATE ANY CONTACT
INFORMATION AS NEEDED.
PERSONAL AND HOME DISASTER
SURVIVAL
PREPAREDNESS PLANNING
PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS INCLUDES
BEING READY FOR EMERGENCIES AT
HOME, IN YOUR CAR, OR ANYWHERE
ELSE YOU MAY SPEND TIME.
BEING PREPARED CAN REDUCE FEAR,
ANXIETY, AND LOSSES THAT ACCOMPANY
DISASTERS
-BETTER RESPOND TO AND
RECOVER FROM ANY DISASTER
OR EMERGENCY, AS WELL AS
CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL
READINESS OF YOUR
COMMUNITY.
A. ASSEMBLING EMERGENCY KIT
MAKE A KIT
YOU MAY NEED TO SURVIVE ON YOUR
OWN AFTER AN EMERGENCY. THIS
MEANS HAVING YOUR OWN FOOD,
WATER, AND OTHER SUPPLIES IN
SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO LAST FOR
AT LEAST THREE DAYS.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE
RECOMMENDED FOR A BASIC
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT:
ONE GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON
PER DAY FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS,
FOR DRINKING AND SANITATION
AT LEAST A THREE DAY SUPPLY OF
NON-PERISHABLE FOOD
BATTERY-POWERED OR HAND CRANK
RADIO
WRENCH OR PLIERS TO TURN
OFF UTICAN OPENER FOR
FOOD (IF KIT CONTAINS
CANNED FOOD)
LOCAL MAPS CELL PHONE
WITH CHARGERS, INVERTER
OR SOLAR CHARGER
LIGHTS
FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES
FIRST AID KIT
WHISTLE TO SIGNAL FOR HELP
DUST MASK TO HELP FILTER
CONTAMINATED AIR AND PLASTIC
SHEETING AND DUCT TAPE TO
SHELTER-IN-PLACE
MOIST TOWELETTES, GARBAGE
BAGS
2. MAKE A PLAN
BEFORE ANY EMERGENCY HAPPENS,
MAKE A PLAN. TO START, SIT DOWN AS
A FAMILY AND CREATE A
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. MAKE SURE
EVERYONE HAS EACH OTHER'S PHONE
NUMBERS AND ALSO HAS NUMBERS
FOR OTHER FAMILY OR FRIENDS
NEARBY WHOCAN HELP RELAY
INFORMATION.
DECIDE ON A GOOD SAFE LOCATION
YOU CAN ALL MEET AT IF YOU ARE
UNABLE TO RETURN HOME RIGHT
AWAY. A FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER
OR LOCAL LANDMARK (CHURCH,
SCHOOL, ETC.)
WRITE IT ALL DOWN (SEE THE HSEM
FAMILY PHONE LIST) AND MAKE COPIES
FOR EVERYONE AND KEEP A COPY IN YOUR
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT.. REMEMBER TO
CHECK THE PLAN PERIODICALLY TO MAKE
SURE ITS ALWAYS UP-TO-DATE.
3. BE INFORMED THERE ARE IMPORTANT
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
POTENTIAL
EMERGENCIES THAT
CAN IMPACT THE
DECISIONS YOU MAKE
AND THE ACTIONS YOU
TAKE
GETTING INVOLVED, COMES
4. GET INVOLVED AS A RESULT OF
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING
THE FIRST THREE. ONCE YOU
ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR
AND YOUR FAMILY ARE
READY FOR ANY
EMERGENCY, HELPING
OTHERS DO THE SAME,
ESPECIALLY IN YOUR AREA,
BUILDING OR COMMUNITY,
WILL ALSO HELP BUILD
STRENGTH AND RESILIENCY
AND HELP A COMMUNITY
RECOVER AND REBOUND
QUICKLY FOLLOWING ANY
EMERGENCY.
B. LEARNINGPREPAREDNESS
SKILLS
PATTERNS OF
SURVIVAL(STAYING ALIVE)
SURVIVAL PREPAREDNESS IS BEING
ABLE TO COPE
IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOUR SAFETY IS
NOT
AUTOMATICALLY ASSURED BY THE
RESOURCES TO
WHICH YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED
PATTERN FOR SURVIVAL
S - SIZE UP THE SITUATION
SIZE UP YOUR EQUIPMENT
SIZE UP YOUR
PHYSICAL CONDITION
SIZE UP YOUR SURROUNDINGS
U - USE ALL YOUR SENSES,
UNDUE HASTE
MAKES WASTE
R - REMEMBER WHERE
YOU ARE
V - VANQUISH FEAR AND PANIC
I- IMPROVISE
V - VALUE LIVING
A - ACT ONLY AFTER
THINKING
L - LIVE BY YOUR WITS,
BUT FOR NOW,
LEARN BASIC SKILLS
PACE PLANNING
PACE PLANNING
A. PRIMARY, ALTERNATE
CONTINGENCY, EMERGENCY
B. SHELTER IN PLACE OR BUGGING
OUT
PACE IS AN ACRONYM FOR
PRIMARY,
ALTERNATE,
CONTINGENCY,
EMERGENCY
BUGGING IN SIMPLY MEANS
SHELTERING-IN-PLACE, LIKELY AT
HOME, WHILE BUGGING OUT MEANS
LEAVING YOUR HOME
IMPACT RESPONSE
DISASTER TRIAGE CATEGORIES,
SIMPLE TRIAGE AND RAPID
TRANSPORT(START)
• SHELTER-IN-PLACE
• SAFETY ZONES
• EMERGENCY SUPPLIES/FOOD
• RECLINERS/COTS/AMENITIES
• PLAN FOR AFTER 3-DAYS
•
RESPONSIBILITY TO SELF AND
FAMILY
• ARE YOU PREPARED TO REQUIRE
THAT STAFF STAY AT, OR COME
TO, THE JOB
SITE IN THE EVENT THAT A
DISASTER IMPACTS THEIR FAMILY
AND LOVED
ONES.
THE DISASTER TRIAGE
[Link]
RESOURCE TO MEET
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
2. INFRASTRUCTURE
LIMITATIONS
3. INADEQUATE
HAZARD PREPARATION
4. LIMITED TRANSPORT
CAPABILITIES
5. MULTIPLE AGENCIES
RESPONDING
6. HOSPITAL RESOURCES
OVERWHELMED
AIMS OF TRIAGE
[Link] SORT PATIENTS
BASED ON NEEDS FOR
IMMEDIATE CARE
2. TO RECOGNIZE
FUTILITY
3. MEDICAL NEEDS WILL
OUTSTRIP THE IMMEDIATELY
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
4. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
WILL BECOME AVAILABLE
GIVEN ENOUGH TIME.
PRINCIPLES OF TRIAGE
THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF TRIAGE ARE AS
FOLLOWS: -
1. EVERY PATIENT SHOULD RECEIVE
AND TRIAGED BY APPROPRIATE SKILLED
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS.
2. TRIAGE IS A CLINIC-MANAGERIAL
DECISION AND
MUST INVOLVE
COLLABORATIVE PLANNING.
3. THE TRIAGE PROCESS
SHOULD NOT CAUSE A DELAY
IN THE DELIVERY OF EFFECTIVE
CLINICAL CARE.
ADVANTAGES OF TRIAGE
[Link] TO BRING ORDER AND
ORGANIZATION TO A CHAOTIC
SCENE.
2. IT IDENTIFIES AND
PROVIDES CARE TO THOSE WHO
ARE IN GREATEST NEED
3. HELPS MAKE THE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS EASIER
4. ASSURE THAT RESOURCES
ARE USED IN THE MOST
EFFECTIVE MANNER
5. MAY TAKE SOME OF THE
EMOTIONAL BURDEN AWAY
FROM THOSE DOING TRIAGE
TYPES OF TRIAGE
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF TRIAGE:
1. SIMPLE TRIAGE
2. ADVANCED TRIAGE
SIMPLE TRIAGE
IS USED IN A SCENE OF MASS
CASUALTY, IN ORDER TO SORT
PATIENTS INTO THOSE WHO
NEED CRITICAL ATTENTION
AND IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT
TO THE HOSPITAL AND THOSE
WITH LESS SERIOUS INJURIES.
THANK YOU!
Do you have any questions
for me before we go?
