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CODE PINK POLICY

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PURPOSE, To establish, document and implement a procedure, for prevention of child abduction, missing person and, abuse prevention

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Scope, Hospital wide

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Responsibility, • QRT, • Concerned area HOD/In-charge

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Policy, 1. Code Pink is created to handle the emergency situation, like child abduction and missing children/person from the, hospital premises., 2. Code pink is an emergency code which is used to, activate a set of actions in case a child/baby is missing, from the hospital. As there is a fair possibility that the, missing child/baby is abducted, it is considered as an, emergency and a predefined set of actions are taken on an, urgent basis to safeguard the missing child/baby. The, entire system of coordination, communications, decisions, and actions followed during such situation is called as a, code pink system., 3. This policy is applicable for all children/babies within the, hospital premise, irrespective of whether they are the, patient of the hospital, or not.

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Procedure, Situation for Activation of Code Pink, 1. Code pink must be activated when an infant or a, child (up-to the age of 16 years) is missing and could, not be tracked in and around the area where he/she, should have been., 2. The missing child would be for OPD consultation, with his/her parents/attendant or be a visitor to the, hospital.

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Procedure, 3. A missing child/baby could be noticed by a parent,, family member or by any staff of the hospital., 4. Any staff of the hospital who first gets the, information about the missing child must do a quick, search in the nearby areas and take help of other, staff/people around to find the missing child/baby., 5. If not found, code pink should be activated by the, staff immediately by dialing 150 or 5000. It is, important that code pink should be activated as soon, as there is a reasonable assurance that the child/baby, is not around the place

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Procedure of activation of Code Pink, 1. Code pink can be activated by any staff of the, hospital by calling 150 or 5000 from any intercom, device. This line is dedicated only for ‘Emergency, Codes’ and hence will never be busy., 2. A telephone operator is present 24 hours to receive, the call. He/she also has a microphone through which, a public announcement can be made., 3. The operator announce the code pink three times,, and the site of the incidence.

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Quick Response Team (QRT), 1. HOD/ In-charge of the area, 2. Administrative Officer, 3. Security In-charge/ Security Supervisor, 4. Security Guard of the area

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Job Responsibilities of QRT Team, Members, 1. HOD/ In-charge of the area, • The HOD/ in-charge should function as communication, point and gather as much information as possible about, the missing child. For example, when and wherever was, the child/baby last seen, who all came to visit the area,, any suspected event that took place etc., • In-charge/ HOD should also arrange for someone to look, after the parents of the missing child/baby. They should be, kept informed about the search process and its, development., • Parents should be encouraged to help as much as possible, by providing all necessary information and maintaining, their patience.

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Job Responsibilities, of QRT Team Members, 2. Administrative Officer, • As soon as the Admin Officer comes to know about the, incident he/she should visit the area from where the, child/baby is missing and take information about the, situation., • He/she will quickly ascertain if code pink action plan is, being implemented appropriately., • Administrative Officer should also meet the parents and, assure them of all possible efforts on part of hospital., • Console the child’s attendant., • Administrative Officer on his/her discretion can modify, code pink action plan or take any other decisions that, may be required at that time.

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Job Responsibilities, of QRT Team Members, 3. Manager Security/ Security Supervisor, • The security in-charge must immediately position, sufficient guards on all entry/exit points within the, hospital building. Anyone exiting from the hospital,, must be frisked and inspected. In case of doubt the, person should not be allowed to exit., • To ensure the exit gate of the particular block is closed, and one security personnel should be deputed there., • To ensure that the main exit gate of the hospital is, closed and under the control of security staff., • To facilitate search action of the respective area and, other area of the hospital.

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• Few security guards must be sent across the hospitals,, including exteriors, terrace, basements to do a, thorough search of the hospital for the missing baby. All, security guards must listen to the announcement and, understand the description. In case of doubt the Incharge of the area from where the child/baby is missing, should be contacted., • The personnel manning the CCTV camera must closely, examine all areas trough CCTV. An additional person, should be deployed for careful scrutiny., • Security In-charge / Safety officer, must coordinate the, work of security during Code Pink event.

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Job Responsibilities, of QRT Team Members, 4. Security Guard on duty, • The entry and exit of that area should be closed., • Security guard should check any suspicious person, within the hospital premise. Anyone carrying a, large bag or wearing clothes in manner where, baby/child could be hidden, or any one with, unnatural behaviour must be suspected.

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Common instructions for all staff when code, pink is announced, • All staff must be aware of what is meant when ‘code, pink’ gets announced. The code is used in-order to, avoid any unnecessary panic by patients and visitors., • Each staff must be aware of what is their role when, code pink is announced., • Any information pertaining to the missing child/baby, or any suspicious person, must be communicated to, either the security/safety in-charge or to the incharge of the area from where child/baby is missing.

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Common instructions for all staff when code, pink is announced, • All decision making power for unforeseen, situations that may arise during code pink, will be, taken by Administrative Officer or in his/her, absence by the safety/security in-charge

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When should the code pink be called off?, • Code pink shall remain activated till the time any one of, the following outcome materialize:, • i. The child/baby is found, • ii. If the child is not found up-to one hour after code, pink activation, a decision to stop code pink can be, taken by Administrative Officer. The time could be, extended or reduced as per the situational analysis., • iii. In case child is not found, police should be informed, before calling off the code pink. Instruction from police, department must be adhered to.

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Termination of Code Pink:, • Code pink can be called off only by Administrative, Officer or by security in-charge/safety officer in his, absence., • For calling off code pink, the telephone operator, should be informed and he/she will announce, ‘Code Pink – All Clear’, three times. With this, announcement all staff will resume back to their, normal work and active search of the child/baby, can be discontinued.

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Post Termination of Code Pink, • After code pink is called off, the staff will resume, back to their normal work. Administrative Officer, /Security in-charge and the in-charge of the, department from where the child/baby was missing, should complete following process after calling off, code pink, • If the child/baby is found safe, a quick physical, examination of the child/baby should be done to, ensure that child/baby is unharmed. He/she should, then be handed over to the parents., • If the child/baby is found with minor injuries, first, aid / treatment should be given.

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Post Termination of Code Pink, • If the child/baby is found with severe injuries or in dead, condition, or in any condition which indicates a, manhandling/abuse/crime, police shall immediately be, informed and a medico-legal case must be documented., • If a suspect is found eloping with the child, the description, of the suspect should be noted and police should be, informed as soon as possible., • If child is not found within stipulated time, police should be, informed., • The Security In-charge or safety officer should prepare a, detailed report on the code pink incident. The report must, contain description of child, time of code pink activation,, details of search operations, decisions taken and outcome of, code pink.

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Post Termination of Code Pink, • Administration must analyze the code pink system, and take corrective actions to make it more robust.

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Training & Education, • HR Department & concerned HOD is overall, responsible for trainings., • All the healthcare staff are to be trained on this, policy during the following conditions :, 1. Joining of New staff, 2. Changes/ Updation in services / policy