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Emergency Preparedness

About Emergency Preparedness Program

Your safety is our top priority. Women’s College Hospital (WCH) is committed to ensuring a safe environment for everyone who visits the hospital. Our Emergency Preparedness Program establishes and maintains formal organizational procedures to respond to diverse potential emergency events. These plans include established communications channels where we keep our communities up-to-date on how a potential emergency may affect their care and how to stay safe.

Emergency procedures at WCH consider the needs of all individuals, including those with disabilities, to ensure safe and accessible response.

Emergency Codes at Women’s College Hospital:

At WCH, we have twelve Emergency Response Codes in place to ensure a prompt and coordinated response to various emergency situations. These codes enable rapid communication among staff and guide specific predetermined responses to ensure effective and efficient management of emergency situations. Each emergency response code has an assigned colour which the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) has standardized across all Ontario hospitals.

We are also committed to keeping patients and visitors informed during emergency situations. Clear instructions will be provided to help you understand the situation and response appropriately. Whether that means staying where you are, moving to a safer area, or following staff instructions, we’re here to support you every step of the way. If there is an ongoing situation that may affect our patients and communities, we will provide regular updates through channels including our website and social media channels

If You See an Emergency at WCH

  1. Inform the nearest staff member, physician, volunteer or security
  2. Use the Designated Emergency phones (no dialing required) near the main elevator banks to activate an Emergency Code

    Emergency Phone
  3. Use the Duress Alarms (located on the yellow painted columns) in the parking lot to speaking to security

    A yellow painted column in a parking garage with a button below the words "Emergency Assistance"
    Duress Alarm

 

Hospital Codes & Information

The following are the different codes and information on what to do if one is called.

Code Red – Fire or Smoke

Code Red Information

The purpose of the Code Red procedure is to describe how to manage the needs of patients, staff, physicians, volunteers, learners, and visitors during a fire/smoke event.

How to Respond:

In case of fire, the person at the scene will follow the REACT protocol:

  • Remove people in immediate danger.
  • Ensure door(s) are closed to confine fire and smoke.
  • Activate the fire alarm system/use the nearest pull station, if not already activated.
  • Call Switchboard – dial ext. 5555 from any hospital phone
  • Try to extinguish the fire or concentrate on further evacuation.

If the fire alarm sounds, it indicates a fire condition somewhere in the building

  1. Stop what you are doing (if safe to do so) and remain calm
  2. Listen for instructions or announcements over the Public Address system
  3. Stay away from the affected area.
  4. If you are in the affected area, follow instructions from staff

If you are unable to hear the fire alarm and see the strobe light flashing

  1. Remain calm
  2. Seek help from a staff member
  3. Follow instructions from staff

In case of a vertical evacuation due to fire and you are not able to evacuate using the stairs

  1. Inform the Fire Warden or any staff member that you are unable to descend 
  2. Follow instructions from staff or Toronto Fire Services 

Code White – Violent Person/Behavioural Situation  

Code White Information

The hospital has a Code White response plan to address situations where an individual poses a threat to themselves or others and immediate assistance is required to de-escalate the situation and/or respond to the incident. 

How to Respond:

Hearing a Code White announcement: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area. 
  3. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  4. Wait for instructions from staff. 

Witnessing actual or potential violent behaviours: 

  • Maintain a safe distance and do not try to intervene 
  • Remain claim 

Code Blue – Medical Emergency/Cardiac Arrest 

Code Blue Information

WCH provides a Code Blue response for individuals (patients, visitors, staff) experiencing a medical emergency/cardiac arrest.

How to Respond: 

Hearing a Code Blue announcement: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area. 
  3. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  4. Wait for instructions from staff.

If you suspect yourself or others are experiencing a medical emergency/cardiac arrest, immediately notify the nearest staff member. 

Code Green – Evacuation 

Code Green Information

The Code Green plan outlines how WCH intends to provide an expedient and safe evacuation when an area is or may become unsafe. 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Listen to the instructions announced on the Public Address System  
  3. Stay away from the affected area. 
  4. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  5. Follow instructions from staff. 

If you are not able to evacuate using the staircase: 

  1.  Inform any staff member that you are unable to descend. 
  2. Follow instructions from staff or Toronto Fire Services 

Code Yellow – Missing Person (Adult) 

Code Yellow Information

When a person is missing and feared to be at risk to self or others, a systematic search process will be initiated to locate the person and involve the Toronto Police Service, if appropriate. 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Avoid active participation in the search. 
  3. Stay away from the affected area. 
  4. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  5. Wait for and follow instructions from staff. 

If you see someone who appears to match the description of the missing person, immediately notify the nearest staff member. 

Code Purple – Hostage Taking 

Code Purple Information

WCH has a Hostage Taking Response Plan to pre-plan, educate and prepare all team members for the unexpected. Toronto Police Services (TPS) are the primary responders and will be contacted as soon as a Code Purple is called 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area if possible. 
  3. Do not confront the hostage taker. 
  4. Wait for and follow all instructions from staff and/or police. 

Code Amber – Missing Child/Child Abduction 

Code Amber Information

When an infant/child is missing and feared to be at risk, an immediate and systematic search process (Code Amber) will be initiated to locate the infant/child and involve the Toronto Police Service (TPS). 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Avoid active participation in the search. 
  3. Stay away from the affected area. 
  4. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  5. Wait for and follow instructions from staff. 

If you see someone who appears to match the description of the missing child, immediately notify the nearest staff member. 

Code Orange – External Disaster 

Code Orange – Information

WCH intends to respond to and manage an external disaster by implementing a Code Orange Disaster Response Plan. 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area. 
  3. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  4. Wait for and follow instructions from staff.

Code Brown – In-Facility Hazardous Spill or Flood

Code Brown Information

WCH aims to respond to hazardous material spills and floods in a timely and appropriate manner to protect human health, property, and the environment through an emphasis on awareness and spill prevention. 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area. 
  3. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  4. Wait for and follow instructions from staff. 

Code Grey – Infrastructure Loss or Failure and External Air Exclusion 

Code Grey Information

A Code Grey is activated in the event of any unplanned failure or loss of a critical infrastructure system, or if the organization is subject to air quality concerns from an external source.  

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area. 
  3. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system. 
  4. Wait for and follow instructions from staff. 

Code Grey – IM/IT Infrastructure Loss or Failure 

Code Grey Information

A Code Grey is activated in the event of any unplanned failure or loss of critical Information Technology system(s). 

How to Respond: 

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Wait for and follow instructions from staff. 

Code Silver – Person With a Weapon 

Code Silver Information

WCH has a Code Silver Response Plan to respond to assailants with weapons in a timely and appropriate manner. Toronto Police Services (TPS) are the primary responders and will be contacted as soon as a Code Silver is called.

How to Respond:

  1. Remain calm. 
  2. Stay away from the affected area if possible. 
  3. Do not confront the assailant. 
  4. Wait for and follow all instructions from staff and/or police.

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