Code Phrases

As more and more school campuses are forced to confront bomb threats and conduct drills for attacks such as Columbine and the Virginia Tech shooting, an area of concern is the continued use of code phrases to alert school staff. The desire to use codes is understandable. An intercom announcement stating “We have just received a bomb threat.” is hardly precursor to a successful response.

However, the more important the message, the more vital it is that everyone understands. A substitute teacher not knowing that an announcement of “Mr. Smith is in the building” or “Code Orange” means to implement a lockdown, needlessly puts lives in danger. When confronted with a situation that could pose immediate danger to students and staff, school administrators should use plain language to communicate the hazard. An example for a dangerous intruder could be “We have an intruder in the building. Students report immediately to the nearest classroom. Teachers implement a lock down. Police are on the way.” Will this cause anxiety yes. Is there another way to ensure that everyone in the building knows what to do? I can’t think of one.

For situations that are slightly less eminent, such as a bomb threat, announcing “Teachers restrict hallway access. Students report directly to your next scheduled class” should elicit the desired response of controlling student movement, while not creating an undue panic.

A school administrator shared with me a real-world experience regarding the use of codes in an elementary school. A teacher was expecting her first child and coordinated with the secretary a way to communicate to the school staff news of the new arrival. One morning the secretary went on the school’s intercom and excitedly announced “Attention teachers, Code Blue.” Students hid, doors were hurriedly locked, and panic ensued all because the teacher had just delivered a baby boy…

Don’t count on the use of a code phrase to deliver information that could save lives and remember coordinate your plans and drills with your local response agencies!

This post is provided by SafePlans (www.safeplans.com), an all-hazards preparedness solution including emergency plans, staff training, and detailed site mapping.

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