Code pink is an emergency code which is used to activate a set of action in case a child/baby is missing from the ward/room. As there is a fair possibility that the missing child/baby is abducted, it is considered as an emergency situation and a predefined set of actions are taken on an urgent basis to safeguard the missing child/baby. The entire system of coordination, communications, decisions and actions followed during such situation is called as a code pink system. (Also check Code Blue, Code Red)
Depending upon how a hospital is structured and organized the code pink system may vary from one hospital to another. The objective, however, remains the same, i.e. ‘Find the missing child as soon as possible’. The objective should be achieved in a manner that other critical activities in the hospital do not get hampered and that unnecessary scare or commotion of public be avoided. An illustrative code pink system has been described below. This can be taken as a reference for developing code pink system by various hospitals.
Code Pink Policy:
A missing child/baby from the place where he/she should have been should be taken as an emergency situation. Code Pink should be activated as soon as child/baby is considered to be missing. This policy is applicable for all child/baby within the hospital premise, irrespective of whether or not they are the patient of the hospital. This policy is not restricted to paediatric and neonatal areas, but is applicable across the hospital wherever incidence of missing child/baby happens.
When to activate code Pink?
Code pink must be activated when a neonate, infant or a child (up-to the age of 15 years) is missing and could not be tracked in and around the area where he/she should have been. The missing child could be admitted in hospital or a visitor. A missing child/baby could be noticed by a parent, family member or by any staff of the hospital. Any staff of the hospital who first gets the information about the missing child must do a quick search in the nearby areas and take help of other staff/people around to find the missing child/baby. If not found, code pink should be activated by the staff immediately. It is important that code pink should be activated as soon as there is a reasonable assurance that the child/baby is not around the place.
How to activate code pink?
Code pink can be activated by any staff of the hospital by calling 2222 from any intercom device. This line is dedicated only for ‘Code Pink’ and hence will never be busy. A telephone operator is present 24 hours to receive the call. He/she also has a microphone through which a public announcement can be made.
Before placing the call the staff should quickly collect basic description of the missing child/baby from the parent or family. This basic description should be ‘age’, ‘gender’, ‘name’, ‘type and colour of clothing’. After calling 2222 the caller must say ‘Code Pink’ and describe the child in brief along with the location from where he/she is missing. This message should be repeated to ensure that the receiver has understood.
As soon as the telephone operator receives the code pink he/she makes an announcement in the public announcement system. The announcement is made by saying ‘Code Pink’ followed by brief description of child and location from where he/she is missing. The announcement is made 3 times in a row and then repeated again after 2 minutes. If required, further announcements should be made.
What happens when code pink is activated?
As soon as code pink announcement is made every staff should follow the given action plan
1. In-charge of the area from where the child is missing –
a. The in-charge should function as communication point and gather as much information as possible about the missing child. For example, when and wherever was the child/baby last seen, who all came to visit the area, any suspected event that took place etc.
b. In-charge should be available at the desk to maintain communication and coordination.
c. In-charge should also arrange for someone to look after the parents of the missing child/baby. They should be kept informed about the search process and its development. Parents should be encouraged to help as much as possible by providing all necessary information and maintaining their patience
2. In-charges of all wards and patient areas – They should understand the description and start a search of the missing child/baby within and around there ward. She should seek help of other nurses and staff for the search, however critical patient care work should not be stopped for this.
3. In-charge of OPD and Emergency – As OPD and emergency has an entry/exit points, the in-charge must assign some staff from there department to monitor the gates and also the outside areas of the hospital.
4. Security –
a. The security in-charge must immediately position sufficient guards on all entry/exit points within the hospital building. Anyone exiting from the hospital, must be frisked and inspected. In case of doubt the person should not be allowed to exit.
b. Few security guards must be sent across the hospitals, including exteriors, terrace, basements to do a thorough search of the hospital for the missing baby. All security guards must listen to the announcement and understand the description. In case of doubt the In-charge of the area from where the child/baby is missing should be contacted.
c. Any suspicious person within the hospital premise should be checked. Anyone carrying a large bag or wearing clothes in manner where baby/child could be hidden, or any one with unnatural behaviour must be suspected.
d. All employees on contract or outsourced manpower must also be restricted from any movement outside the hospital. They shall be checked if suspected.
e. The personnel manning the CCTV camera must closely examine all areas trough CCTV. An additional person should be deployed for careful scrutiny
f. Security In-charge / Safety officer, must coordinate the work of security during Code Pink event
5. Other staff – All other staff must look around there place of work and be vigilant about the missing baby/child. If any staff finds a suspicious person, security in-charge should be contacted.
6. Hospital Administrator – As soon as the hospital’s administrator come to know about the incident he/she should visit the area from where the child/baby is missing and take information about the situation. He/she will quickly ascertain if code pink action plan is being implemented appropriately. Hospital administrator should also meet the parents and assure them of all possible efforts on part of hospital.
Hospital administrator on his/her discretion can modify code pink action plan or take any other decisions that may be required at that time
Common instructions for all staff when code pink is announced
1. All staff must be aware of what is meant when ‘code pink’ gets announced. The code is used in-order to avoid any unnecessary panic by patients and visitors.
2. Each staff must be aware of what is their role when code pink is announced
3. Any information pertaining to the missing child/baby or any suspicious person, must be communicated to either the security/safety in-charge or to the in-charge of the area from where child/baby is missing.
4. All decision making power for unforeseen situations that may arise during code pink, will be taken by hospital’s administrator or in his/her absence by the safety/security in-charge.
When should the code pink be called off?
Code pink shall remain activated till the time any one of the following outcome materialize
1. The child/baby is found
2. If the child is not found up-to one hour after code pink activation, a decision to stop code pink can be taken by hospital administrator. The time could be extended or reduced as per the situational analysis.
3. In case child is not found, police should be informed before calling off the code pink. Instruction from police department must be adhered to
How to call off code pink?
Code pink can be called off only by hospital administrator or by safety/security in-charge in his absence. For calling off code pink, the telephone operator should be informed and he/she will announce ‘Code Pink – All Clear’, three times. With this announcement all staff will resume back to their normal work and active search of the child/baby can be discontinued.
What after code pink is called off?
After code pink is called off, the staff will resume back to their normal work. Hospital administrator, security in-charge and the in-charge of the department from where the child/baby was missing should complete following process after calling off code pink
1. If the child/baby is found alright a quick physical examination of the child/baby should be to ensure that child/baby is in normal condition. He/she should then be handed over to the parent
2. If the child/baby is found with minor injuries, first aid / treatment should be given
3. If the child/baby is found with severe injuries or in dead condition, or in any condition which indicates a manhandling/abuse/crime, police shall immediately be informed and a medico-legal case must be documented
4. If a suspect is found eloping the child, the description of the suspect should be noted and police should be informed as soon as possible
5. If child is not found within sufficient time, police should be informed
6. The safety/security officer should prepare a detailed report on the code pink incident. The report must contain description of child, time of code pink activation, details of search operations, decisions taken and outcome of code pink.
7. Hospital administrator must analyse the code pink system and take corrective action to make it more robust
