A Code Silver in a hospital is a planned emergency response activated when there is a person on hospital property who is in possession of a weapon and poses a threat. This could include weapons like guns, knives, or other objects intended to cause harm. The purpose of Code Silver is to ensure the safety of healthcare workers, patients, visitors, and others by instructing them to hide, not engage, and evacuate if possible. The police are contacted immediately once a Code Silver is called. During a Code Silver:

• Healthcare workers should not confront or attempt to de-escalate the assailant.
• Those in the immediate vicinity should hide, lock or barricade doors, stay quiet, and remain out of sight.
• If safe, people who are near but not immediately at the scene should evacuate the area quickly and follow police direction.
• Fighting back is recommended only as a last resort if life is in imminent danger.

The response does not involve other healthcare staff coming to assist, as it is designed to keep people away from harm until law enforcement arrives to secure the situation. Once it is safe, an "All Clear" announcement is made to end the Code Silver. In summary, Code Silver indicates an active weapon threat in a hospital setting, prioritizing hiding and safety while awaiting police intervention. This is consistent across various hospital systems and documented policies on Code Silver response protocols.