code names for situations

[DrPizza]

Question:
In schools, department stores, industries, etc., they use code names for various situations

example: "Code blue in east hallway" means "medical emergency in east hallway"
or "code red in room 192" means "fire in room 192"
or at WalMart
"Code Adam" means missing child or something


Why can't they just say what they mean? Why does everyone feel a need to use euphemisms and codes?

How about "attention walmart shoppers, there is a missing 4 year old girl in the store."
or "medical personnel needed immediately in east hallway"
or "run for your lives! Fire in room 192"
well, perhaps not the latter, but, since everyone needs to be trained to recognize what the different codes mean, why bother at all?

 

[Looney]

To not alarm those who don't know what the codes are.

 

[isasir]

I'd assume it's so that people listening in won't immediately panic before the situation is fully assessed to determine how to handle it.

Just like your post says, if someone hears there's a fire, there's going to be a lot of chaos. However, the fire might just be something minor and contained that no announcement is even needed.

 

[Murpheeee]

my local supermarket has celebrity code names for employees

Brad Pitt please report to customer service.....Telephone call for Julia Roberts......

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: isasir
I'd assume it's so that people listening in won't immediately panic before the situation is fully assessed to determine how to handle it.

Just like your post says, if someone hears there's a fire, there's going to be a lot of chaos. However, the fire might just be something minor and contained that no announcement is even needed.

And it helps if say the teachers know the codes, and tell the kids to walk out in a line... rather than shouting over the PA 'OMFG FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE!'

 

[Gurck]

Because by and large, people are stupid and panic-prone.

 

[GasX]

Anyone know what a code brown is at a hospital?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Anyone know what a code brown is at a hospital?

Overflowing bedpan?

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Anyone know what a code brown is at a hospital?

Overflowing bedpan?

More often without actually having the bedpan involved...

:Q

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Because by and large, people are stupid and panic-prone.

 

[DrPizza]

I can understand the situations where you don't want to panic everyone...
But, in some companies, particularly factories and places like that, they have the codes posted all over the place.
Why bother then?