May 26

Once again, sitting at the desk on 2W. On May 26 at 4:30 p.m., that's what I was doing. This is the notice telling any unfortunate person who is at the desk how to call the different codes that generate lots of chimes going off and people running. Code Blue replaces the old Cor-0, an alarm used when someone is unresponsive and not breathing. Code Red is a fire alarm, a noisy and scary venture. Emergency Stat is for everything else, when you need a doctor, nurse or respiratory therapist NOW. Whenever one of these pages needs to be called, the chimes are activated and it's creepy how the whole hospital stops to listen when the chimes go off. You can hear a pin drop. Then all of a sudden, all hell breaks loose and you'd better not be standing in the hallway. You'll get mowed down AND yelled at in the process. May 26, 2009