North York General implements a comprehensive program to prepare for and manage all levels of emergency situations. This is done through the Emergency Preparedness Committee, an interdisciplinary team of staff member with links to external partnerships. Their role is to provide a safe environment by developing, training and testing effective emergency response procedures for all sites.
What are emergency codes?
An emergency code is a notification of an event that requires immediate action. North York General utilizes standardized colour codes as supported by the Ontario Hospital Association. Staff, physicians and volunteers understand what each code refers to and are aware of how to respond to provide a safe environment.
During your time at North York General, you may hear overhead announcements or see staff responding to a code event. During any event, it is important to remain calm and follow all instructions provided by staff.
See the listing below for a description of our emergency codes and general instructions.
Who do you notify in case of an emergency?
5555 is the emergency number at North York General.
When you dial 5555 from an internal phone, this is answered as a priority call — identify your location and the type of emergency. As a result of this call, appropriate help will be sent to this location.
Codes and definitions
The Code Black Plan informs staff of appropriate actions to be taken during a bomb threat emergency in order to minimize damage and disruption to the facility and personnel at all NYGH sites. North York General will work collaboratively with Toronto Police Services in the management of a Code Black emergency.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Await direction from hospital staff
If you identify a suspicious object/package, alert a staff member. DO NOT touch the package. Report the object/package to a staff member
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
Code Blue will be called in the event of impending/actual respiratory and/or cardiac arrest in patients 18 years of age and over.
How to Respond:
Remain calm
Alert a staff member
Await direction from hospital staff
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
A Code Brown refers to the plans and procedures used to protect North York General patients, visitors, families, staff, physicians, volunteers and property from hazardous or potentially hazardous chemical/biological spills.
How to Respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter the affected area
If within the affected area, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
In the event of a hospital evacuation, a Code Green is used to make decisions that focus on the safety for all. This includes whether it is safest to move to another unit or to the outside in the event of an emergency.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter any affected area(s)
If directed to relocate by a staff member, proceed to the designated waiting area. Follow a single file line. Leave all belongings behind.
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
In the event there is an infrastructure system(s) failure or loss, or the implementation of intervention measures that constitute a health or safety risk to patients, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers, a Code Grey will be announced.
How to Respond:
Remain calm
Report any outages or service disruptions to a staff member
Do not open any windows and limit your movement throughout the facility
If able to do so, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
The goal of a Code Orange is to enable North York General to receive and treat a sudden influx of patients and while continuing to provide patient care and information management. A Family Information Support Centre may be activated to act as a central location to receive essential information for family members and the community.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter any affected area
If able to do so, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
Code Pink will be called in the event of impending/actual respiratory and/or cardiac arrest in patients 17 years of age or under.
How to Respond:
Remain calm
Alert a staff member
Await direction from hospital staff
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
The purpose of Code Purple is to provide a guideline to persons involved in an actual or potential hostage situation or involved with a person who has a weapon so that they may respond appropriately.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter the affected area
If within the affected area, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff or emergency services
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
Code Red procedures have been developed to mitigate the risks associated with fire at North York General. If you discover a fire: remain calm and remember REACT
R Remove those in immediate danger if possible and call out “Code Red” location for assistance. E Ensure doors are closed to confine fire and smoke. A Activate the fire alarm using the nearest pull station. C Call the switchboard (5555) to give exact location and nature of fire and call 911. T Try to extinguish the fire or continue to evacuate if you are not confident in your ability to put out the fire promptly.
Upon hearing fire alarm:
If continuous signal:
• Leave the building by the nearest exit.
• Close doors behind you.
If intermittent signal
• Standby and prepare to leave the building.
Caution: Do not use elevators. If you encounter smoke, use an alternative exit.
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
A Code White refers to plans and procedures that manage violent or potentially violent patients who are unmanageable by any other means and present a danger to self or to others.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter the affected area
If within the affected area, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
North York General Hospital is responsible for the safety of its patients/ residents and will activate a Code Yellow search procedure when a person is declared missing (unauthorized absence from the unit/hospital). This may be used to address missing staff, volunteers, visitors or contractors if required.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter the affected area
If able to do, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff
Provide any information you may have to security if requested
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
North York General is responsible for ensuring the safety of its patients and visitors, and will activate a Code Amber search procedure when an infant/child is declared missing and/or abducted by a non-authorized person.
How to respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter the affected area
If able to do so, stay with your family/support network
Await direction from hospital staff
Provide any information you may have to security if requested
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
North York General is committed to providing a safe environment for all people within its facilities. A Code Silver outlines the response taken to manage an active attacker or person with a weapon.
How to Respond:
Remain calm
Do not enter the affected area
Run – Evacuate the area if safe to do so
Hide – Seek cover and concealment if unable to run
Survive – As a last resort, do whatever it takes to maintain your safety against the attacker.
Await direction from hospital staff or law enforcement
To report an emergency dial 5555 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe your emergency.
Personal Preparedness
Emergency preparedness starts with everyone. North York General encourages our patients, families and community to get involved in emergency preparedness by taking actions to become more prepared wherever you live, work and visit. Consider the following steps:
Understand what risks are most relevant to you and your support network
Spend some time creating a plan that works for you. Consider how you would evacuate, communicate with your support network and plan for any medical or disability needs during an emergency.
Prepare a kit that should have essential items that you need to be safe and take care of yourself/your network (including pets) for at least three days following an emergency. These items should include:
food (non-perishable and easy-to-prepare items, enough for three days) and a manual can opener
bottled or bagged water (4 litres per person for each day) and backup water purification tablets
medication(s)
toilet paper and other personal items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
personal protective equipment (PPE) such as medical masks and respirators
back up chargers and power banks for cell phone or mobile device
cash in small bills
portable light source such as a flashlight, headlamp or glow stick
radio (crank or battery-run)
extra batteries
first-aid kit
candles and matches/lighter
hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
important papers such as a copy of your emergency plan, identification, contact lists, copies of prescriptions, etc.
extra car and house keys
whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
zip-lock bag (to keep things dry)
garbage bags and duct tape
Tune into local news and emergency notification applications to stay up-to-date on important information.
