Launching Plain Language Emergency Alerts Across Southern California Hospitals

HASC is pleased to announce a regional initiative to transition hospitals from traditional color-coded emergency alerts to standardized plain language emergency alerts. Beginning in Sept. 2026, hospitals across the HASC region are encouraged to initiate the transition based on organizational readiness. This effort will support a more consistent, clear and effective emergency communication system for Southern California hospitals. For decades, hospitals have used color-coded alerts such as Code Red, Code Silver and Code Pink to communicate emergencies. As workforce mobility and regional collaboration have increased, however, so has the need for a communication system that can be immediately understood by staff, patients and visitors across all healthcare settings. Plain language alerts clearly convey the emergency, its location and any necessary instructions, reducing confusion and supporting faster, more effective response. Under the new framework, alerts will use straightforward terms such as 'Fire Alarm,' 'Combative Person,' 'Missing Child' and 'Active Shooter.' This transition aligns with national emergency communication principles that promote the use of plain language and common terminology to improve safety, clarity and interoperability during emergencies. Code Blue will remain unchanged, reflecting its longstanding universal recognition within healthcare and its critical role in clinical emergency response. This initiative reflects HASC's ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness and patient safety. Following a regional review that identified significant variation in emergency alert terminology across hospitals, the HASC Emergency Alerts Workgroup endorsed the adoption of standardized plain language alerts to improve consistency and understanding throughout Southern California. HASC extends its sincere appreciation to the HASC Emergency Alerts Workgroup and the HASC Safety and Security Committee for their leadership, expertise and dedication in developing this important initiative. Their collaborative efforts have helped establish a stronger foundation for emergency communication and safety across the region. To support implementation, HASC has developed a Plain Language Emergency Alert Implementation Guide. The comprehensive guide includes policy templates, training resources, communication tools, implementation checklists, sample paging scripts and other transition resources. Hospitals may adapt these materials to meet local operational needs while maintaining regional consistency. Measuring Regional Progress HASC will conduct regional surveys at approximately six, 18 and 36 months following the initiative launch. The surveys will monitor adoption, track implementation progress and identify opportunities to support hospitals throughout the transition. For HASC, the transition to plain language emergency alerts is more than just a change in terminology. It represents the association's core value of safety for patients, hospital staff and communities through ensuring clear, effective communication when it matters most. To access the implementation materials, please visit: https://hasc.org/plain-language If this is your first time accessing the HASC website, you will need to create an account. To register for a new account or reset your password for a current one, visit https://calhospital.org/login. Please email [email protected] for any account or login issues. For questions about the plain language initiative, contact Teri Hollingsworth, vice president, HR and education services, at [email protected] or (213) 538-0763.