What is a code 10 in a hospital?
Ava Robinson
Published Apr 17, 2026
The term "Code" derives from the practice at many institutions of using "Code" designations followed by colors ("Code blue"), numbers ("Code 10") or other qualifying terms to alert personnel in the event of an emergency and to specify what type of emergency is occurring.
What are the different codes in a hospital?
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.