Code pink in the hospital: the emergency for a child
Code pink signals a cardiac arrest or a medical emergency in a child. The definitions of four Quebec institutions, and what the witness does.
In a hospital, code pink is the paediatric counterpart of code blue. Its definition ranges from cardiac arrest to a medical emergency, depending on the institution.
What code pink means
- CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal: "Code pink is used to signal a newborn or a child weighing between 0 and 36 kg in cardiorespiratory arrest."
- CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, July 2019: paediatric cardiac arrest or threat to life
- CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal: paediatric cardiac arrest
- CISSS des Laurentides, March 2024: paediatric medical emergency
Where it applies
At the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, the procedure brings help to any child in cardiac arrest in a facility. It also covers the grounds and parking lots, and staff can call 911 if needed.
What the witness does
According to the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, the witness:
- Notifies the switchboard operator or security and says "code pink" with the location, the department and the room
- Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if they have the necessary knowledge
- Stays on site and waits for the code pink team
At the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, the witness dials the emergency number of their facility and assists the victim. The trained response team then takes charge of the situation.
Code pink or code blue
Code blue covers cardiac arrest in general. Code pink brings in a team prepared for children. The CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal draws the line by weight: from 0 to 36 kg.
The other codes
Our articles on the other codes: code white, code blue, code purple, code yellow and code red. All the colours are gathered in the table of hospital colour codes.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a code pink?
It is the call made for a child in cardiac arrest or in a medical emergency, depending on the institution. A trained team goes to the scene.
What are the codes in hospitals?
The CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal lists twelve: silver, white, blue, brown, grey, yellow, purple, black, orange, pink, red and green. The list and the definitions vary from one institution to another. At work, the procedure of your facility is the only one that counts.
What is a code white?
A code white signals a violent or threatening person. A staff member calls for help, and the code white team responds.
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Sources
- CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Introduction aux mesures d'urgence, consulted on October 10, 2026
- CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Mesures d'urgence, leaflet, July 2019
- CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Présentation des codes de couleur, consulted on October 10, 2026
- CISSS des Laurentides, Mesures d'urgence, quality sheet, March 2024