Hospital systems use standardized emergency codes to communicate rapidly and efficiently when a threat to safety arises. Codes like Code Red (fire) or Code Blue (medical emergency) allow staff to mobilize a coordinated response without causing widespread panic. Code Violet is a standardized alert specifically designated to signal an ongoing situation involving violence or aggression. It declares that the safety of staff, patients, or visitors is immediately compromised and requires intervention from trained security personnel and a specialized response team.
The Signal of Code Violet
Code Violet is the universal signal used in healthcare settings to alert personnel to a violent or combative individual within the premises. The code’s primary function is to immediately notify the hospital’s security and emergency response teams that a situation has escalated beyond verbal de-escalation efforts. This alert often replaces older, less descriptive terms, providing a clear, unambiguous signal that physical intervention is required to restore a safe environment.
The activation of Code Violet signifies the presence of physical violence, uncontrolled aggressive behavior, or the threat of harm, which may or may not involve a weapon. Announcing the code over the public address system, along with the location of the incident, allows all other personnel to take precautionary measures and clear the area.
Triggers for Implementation
The decision to activate Code Violet is based on an immediate threat of physical danger, distinguishing it from minor altercations or general agitation. Scenarios that cross the threshold for implementation include physical assault directed at staff, other patients, or visitors. This involves striking, pushing, or any action causing physical harm or the reasonable fear of it.
Threats of harm, especially those accompanied by intimidating body language or the presence of an object that could be used as a weapon, also trigger the code. Property destruction by an agitated individual, such as smashing equipment or furniture, represents another common trigger, as it signals a loss of control and immediate danger. Staff are trained to recognize when a situation moves past basic de-escalation techniques and requires the structured response that Code Violet provides.
Immediate Response Protocols
Once Code Violet is announced, a multi-disciplinary team is immediately dispatched to the location, with security personnel taking the lead role in the response. This team typically includes hospital security officers, specially trained nurses, and often a member of the behavioral health crisis management team. Their initial priority is to safely separate the aggressor from potential victims and contain the situation within a defined area.
Clinical staff at the scene focus on securing patients and removing them from immediate harm, which involves moving them behind locked doors or away from the line of sight of the incident. The security team attempts verbal de-escalation using calm, non-confrontational communication to encourage the individual to comply voluntarily. If de-escalation fails and the threat continues, security personnel are authorized to use approved physical intervention techniques or restraints to neutralize the danger.
Safety Guidance for Non-Involved Individuals
Patients, visitors, and non-essential staff who are not part of the response team should respond to a Code Violet announcement with immediate compliance and caution. The first action is to remain calm and follow any instructions provided by hospital staff, who are trained to direct people to safe locations. Individuals near the incident should move away from the area as quickly and quietly as possible, seeking shelter behind closed doors or in a designated safe zone.
It is imperative that non-involved individuals avoid approaching the scene out of curiosity or attempting to intervene in the situation. Clearing hallways and stairwells is equally important, as this allows the response team, including security and potentially law enforcement, unhindered access to the incident location. The best way to support the resolution of a Code Violet is to prioritize personal safety and allow the trained responders to manage the threat.