Codes and Crash Carts

• Code blue


  cardiac arrest.

  -call a code, get the crash cart
• Code grey


  Code for security emergencies

  -such as a disgruntled patient or visitor

  - It is used for when you need extra muscle
• Code red


  Code for fire.

  -Goal is to remove patients and personnel out of immediate danger from the fire
• Code pink


  infant abduction.

  -during this code all halls, exits, and entrances should be secured and all individuals inspected.

  -stop and ask questions.
• Universal codes


  Grey, Red, Pink, Purple, Orange
• Codes


  may vary from facilities and hospitals
• Random code pinks


  Will be called in a hospital to practice prevention of infant abduction
• Code purple


  Code for child abduction
• Code orange


  Code for hazardous material spills
• Code green


  Code used for when a patient with cardiac arrest is coming in to emergency. This is to get them prepared to receive the patient
• Code triage


  Code for internal and external disasters.

  -prepare for a large amount of patients
• Internal disasters


  Disasters that effect the operation and usual environment of a hospital such as earthquake or flood
• External disasters


  Disasters which may cause a large number of patients to require care

  -EQ

  -floods

  -fires

  -airplane crashes

  -large volume of patients
• Code yellow


  Code for bomb threats
• Code white


  Code for pediatric medical emergencies

  -(similar to code blue, but for pediatrics)
• Code silver


  Code used for a person with a weapon or a hostage situation
• Crash cart


  A cart that has emergency medicines and supplies to care for a person who has gone into

  -cardiac arrest

  -respiratory arrest
• What's on top of the crash cart?

  -Multifunction pads (Stat pads)

  -Cardiac monitor/defibrillator

  -Sharp containers

  -Ambu bag with mask

  -Inventory checklist/code blue sheets
• What color are the crash carts for pediatrics and regular departments?

  Usually red but blue in pediatrics
• What you should do to activate the emergency response system for code blue

  Call code with emergency number, get crash cart, and know how to use oxygen and equipment
• First goal during silver code

  Protect yourself and patient, this may be through running or securing
• Where are crash carts found?

  Rooms in which contrast medium studies are performed
• Iodine


  Substance that is used in many contrast studies in radiography. However, many people are allergic to iodine. This is why crash carts are usually located in rooms where procedures with this substance are done
• Lot number


  Number that is found on the locks of a crash cart
• Pharmacy or respiratory therapy


  Departments of a hospital that are generally responsible for restocking and inventorying crash carts
• Who restocked or check it, when it was restocked or checked, and the lot number of the locks


  Information that is written down on the inventory checklist of a crash cart
• Drawer 1


  Drawer of a crash cart wheremedicationsare found-alcohol pads, vasoconstrictors (vasopressin) or vaso depressants, epinephrine, dopamine, and lidocaine, atropine, sodium bicarbonate - (LEADSV)
• The amount of voltage it can put out

  Thing that is checked on a defibrillator when checking or restocking a crash cart

  -200 joules for normal output of defibrilator
• Epinephrine


  Liquid adrenaline that is the most commonly used medication for cardiac arrest. It increases contractility of the heart , increases blood pressure and increases the heart's sensitivity to electrical conduction
• vasopressin


  maintains water, constricts blood vessels
• Sodium Bicarbonate


  Maintains pH balance
• Atropine


  Indicated for cardiac arrest patients suffering
• Lidocaine


  V-Tach, PVCs
• Dopamine


  vasodilator, increases contractility and blood flow
• Drawer 2


  Drawer of a crash cart where materials used to create an open air way are stored.

  -endotracheal tubes

  - pressure cuffs

  - nasopharyngeal air ways (NPA)

  -oropharyngeal airways (OPA)

  -laryngoscopes

  -Magil forceps
• Drawer 3


  Drawer of a crash cart where materials used to create anopen airway(Peds)and contain accessory equipment for IV lines.- blood pressure cuff - suction catheter kit - Container with endotracheal tubesContainer with: IV arm boards, butterflies, PIVs, securement system and protective dressing and spinal needle
• Drawer 4


  MiscellaneousDrawer of a crash cart that contains feeding tubes and additional medications for ped's-Umbilical vessel catheter
• Drawer 5


  Drawer withIV and Blood Draw supplies:

  -Syringes

  -Lab specimen tubes

  -Tape

  -Tourniquet

  -IV catheters

  -3-way stopcock
• Drawer 6


  Drawer withIV solutions, tubing, and PICC Line that contains different types of IV s and IV solutions, various size syringes, Betadine solutions, Swabs tape-Central venous catheter insertion kit
• Drawer 7


  Drawer withprocedural trays and miscellaneous items to cut the patients chest open to perform an internal heart massage

  -Latex free sterile gloves

  -Surgical suture

  -kerlix sponges

  -Adult and pediatric cutdown trays