Emergency Measures

In case of an emergency, this page will explain the precautionary measures to be taken.

There are no current emergencies. 

Emergency Preparedness

Montfort 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 members 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. Montfort utilizes standardized colour codes as supported by the Ontario Hospital Association, and some additional codes for specific situations. 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 Montfort, 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? 

Notify a hospital staff member. 

5 is the emergency number at Montfort. You can dial 5 from any internal hospital 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 quickly.

Codes and definitions

Code Amber: Missing Child

Montfort 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:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If able to do so, stay with your loved ones.
4. Provide any information you may have to security if requested, and if you see an infant/child left unattended.
5. Personal belongings may be searched; collaborate with security if asked.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Aqua: Flooding

A Code Aqua refers to the plans and procedures used to protect Montfort’s patients, visitors, staff members and property from flooding.

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Black: Bomb Threat

The Code Black Plan informs staff of appropriate actions to be taken during a bomb threat emergency to minimize damage and disruption to the facility and personnel at all Montfort sites. Montfort will work collaboratively with Ottawa Police Services in the management of a Code Black emergency.

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.
4. Await instructions from hospital staff.
5. If you identify a suspicious object/package, alert a staff member immediately. Do not touch the package.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Bleed: Hemorrhage/Transfusion

A Code Bleed will be called when a patient urgently needs a blood transfusion. 

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Blue: Cardiac Arrest

A Code Blue will be called in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest in patients 18 years of age and older.

How to respond:

1. If you see someone in respiratory or cardiac distress, alert a staff member.

2. Remain calm.
3. Do not enter the affected area.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Brown: Hazardous Spill

A Code Brown refers to the plans and procedures used to protect Montfort’s patients, visitors, staff members and property from hazardous or potentially hazardous chemical/biological spills.

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Earthquake 

A Code Earthquake would be in effect if the hospital is at risk of such an event, or when one occurs. Should it be required to move to a different area of the hospital, staff members are trained and equipped to safely transfer patients to a safe location.

How to respond: 

1. Remain calm.
2. Stay away from windows and protect yourself from falling objects. 
3. If able to do so, stay with your loved ones.
4. Await instructions from hospital staff.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Green: Evacuation

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 area of a unit, to a different unit or floor, or outside in the event of an emergency.

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter any affected area(s).
3. If instructed to relocate by a staff member, proceed to the designated area. Follow a single file line. Leave all belongings behind.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Grey: System Failure

In the event there is an infrastructure system(s) failure or loss, or the implementation of intervention measures that constitute health or safety risks to patients, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers, a Code Grey will be announced.

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Report any outages or service disruptions to a staff member.
3. If able to do so, stay with your loved ones.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Orange: External Disaster

The goal of a Code Orange is to enable Montfort to receive and treat a sudden influx of patients, 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: 

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter any affected area.
3. If able to do so, stay with your loved ones

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Pink: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

Code Pink will be called in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest in patients 17 years of age or younger.

How to respond:

1. If you see a child in respiratory or cardiac distress, alert a staff member.

2. Remain calm.
3. Do not enter the affected area.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Purple: Hostage Taking

The purpose of Code Purple is to provide a guideline to persons involved in a hostage situation, with or without a weapon involved, so that they may respond appropriately.

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.
4. If able to do so, hide in the nearest room and keep the door closed.
5. Silence all electronic devices.
6. Await instructions from hospital staff or emergency services.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Red: Fire

Code Red procedures have been developed to mitigate the risks associated with fire at Montfort. Unlike other environments, it is not necessary to evacuate a hospital in the event of a fire alarm. Should an evacuation be declared, staff members are trained and equipped to safely evacuate patients and transfer them to a safe location.

How to respond: 

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter any affected area.
3. If able to do so, stay with your loved ones.

Elevators are unavailable during a fire alarm. Please use an alternative exit if necessary.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Silver: Active Attacker

Montfort 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:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. Run – Evacuate the area if safe to do so.
4. Hide – Seek cover and concealment if unable to run. Silence all electronic devices.
5. Survive – As a last resort, do whatever it takes to maintain your safety against the attacker.
6. Await instructions from hospital staff or law enforcement.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Tornado

A Code Tornado would be in effect if the hospital is at risk of such an event. Should it be required to move to a different area of the hospital, staff members are trained and equipped to safely transfer patients to a safe location.

How to respond: 

1. Remain calm.
2. Stay away from windows and protect yourself from falling or flying objects.
3. If able to do so, stay with your loved ones.
4. Await instructions from hospital staff.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code White: Violent Person

A Code White refers to plans and procedures that manage violent or potentially violent persons who are unmanageable by any other means and present a danger to self or to others.

How to respond: 

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code Yellow: Missing Patient

Montfort is responsible for the safety of its patients and will activate a Code Yellow search procedure when a person is declared missing (unauthorized absence from the unit or hospital).

How to respond:

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If able to do, stay with your loved ones.
4. Provide any information you may have to security if requested, and if you see someone who seems lost or out of place.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.

Code 333: Obstetrical Emergency

A Code 333 will be called when a patient experiences an obstetrical emergency. A specialized team from the Family Birthing Centre will respond to assist.

How to respond: 

1. Remain calm.
2. Do not enter the affected area.
3. If you are within the affected area, stay with your loved ones.

To report an emergency, notify a staff member or dial 5 from any internal hospital phone, state your location and describe the situation.