Everyone who watches TV and the movies knows there are a few secret codes used to signal emergency situations without exciting the public, like "code Blue" in a hospital for summoning a crash cart to resuscitate a patient.
Actually, there are more than a few such codes. And not knowing what they mean might be better for us.
The topic made headlines on Tuesday when a pilot accidentally sent a false hijack code to air traffic control, prompting police to storm a JetBlue plane at JFK airport in New York City.
Here’s a look at 12 secret codes you probably never to hear announced:
1. 10-33: When a police officer mentions this code, it usually means that a police emergency is underway, The Reader's Digest reported.
2. Color codes: Certain hospitals use standardized color codes to signify emergencies, according to Business Insider. "Red" means there's a fire, "Black" indicates a bomb threat, while "Code Silver" refers to weapons or hostage situations, and "Code Gray" means a violent person is on the premises.
3. Time check: Many stores use the code "time check" or "time check: the time is 12:00" to signal a bomb threat alert, The Richest noted.
4. Code Adam: Many public locations like malls, hospitals, supermarkets, and museums use this code to signal a missing children's alert, Readers Digest said.
5. 7500: Known as the hijack code because pilots use it to signal that the plane has been taken hostage, ABC News reported.
6. NORA: Many malls and convention centers use this acronym, which stands for "need an officer right away" when faced with a violent or otherwise belligerent person, Business Insider noted.
7. Dr. Brown: Many hospitals use this code to alert staff to the threat of a violent patient in the vicinity, Skyguard reported.
8. Code Bravo: According to Reader's Digest, airport security issues this code when there is a security breach or bomb threat.
9. Sick Passenger: The Richest said that although this code is believed to indicate an attempted suicide on subways, it actually signifies that a person is dead onboard the train.
10. Code Oscar: Used on ships, the code alerts staff to a man overboard, Skyguard said.
11. Dr. Firestone: Hospital staff use this particular code as a fire alert, Reader's Digest noted.
12. Echo: This code is used in emergencies when two ships are about to collide, according to Reader's Digest.
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