Code Pink - Missing Child Protocol

717 Delaware Information Desk phone number: 6-6386
Campus Security phone number: 4-3550
 

General Emergency: 911*

*If you call 911 from a campus telephone, dispatch is connected to campus security as well as other emergency response teams
 

Policy: University of Minnesota will provide a safe and secure environment to prevent potential infant/child abduction from our facilities.

Code Pink is the emergency code announcement to alert staff to potential/actual infant/child abduction.

If an infant or child is missing or abducted, whether potential or actual occurs, steps will immediately be taken to ensure the safety of the infant/child.

Appropriate personnel and outside agencies will be notified and respond according to this procedure.

Procedure:

I. Immediate Communication and Response in Patient Care Area

A. When a staff member has suspicion that an infant or child is missing:

1. Staff person immediately calls the 717 Delaware Information Desk (626-6386). Person/s working at the information desk will watch entrances for outgoing people. They will also be prepared to give program staff member access to the PA system.
Program staff member will announce “Code Pink” over the PA system followed by a description of the child. The description should include the following information: Age, Gender, Race, Height, Weight, Clothing, and any other descriptive features. The announcement should include location the child was last seen and description of suspected individual. (See Script at end of protocol).
2. A second program staff person will be instructed to immediately alert other staff. All staff should:

a. Secure/lock the area after being checked for missing child.
b. Close all fire doors and stairwell doors.
c. Monitor all exits, including doors, stairwells and elevators.
d. Stop all suspicious persons from entering or leaving the immediate area.
e. Do not allow individuals to slip through doors with others.
f. In corridors, turn on lights or leave lights on.
g. Search all patient care rooms, restrooms, lounges, stairwells and corridors.
h. Tend to the family at all times. Move the family to area away from abduction as able. Care and support, offering chaplaincy, patient relations, other measures as appropriate.
i. Ask suspicious person(s) to stop; if the person refuses to stop, obtain a description, the direction the person is moving in and call your designated emergency contact number Campus Security 4-3550 or 911.
j. Protect the crime scene to preserve subsequent collection of any forensic evidence by law enforcement.
k. Remain in the work area until dismissed.
l. Refrain from discussing the event with anyone other than employees involved.
m. See Section II. General Response of All Available Employees below.
n. Continue care and support to other patients and families in the area.

II. General Response of All Available Employees

A. All available employees are responsible to:
• Listen to the Code Pink announcement.
• Close all fire doors and stairwell doors.
• Monitor all exits, including doors, stairwells and elevators.
• In corridors, turn on lights or leave lights on.
• Search all patient care rooms, restrooms, lounges, stairwells and corridors.
• Observe all persons, both employee and non-employee, for suspicious activity. Be aware of all people carrying items that can hide an infant including, but not limited to:

1. Suitcases
2. Bulk coats
3. Tote bags
4. Boxes
5. Blankets
6. Gym/Duffle bags

• Report any suspicious activity or persons by calling your designated emergency contact number, 4-3550 or 911, and obtain description and the direction the person(s) is moving in.
• If the suspicious person(s) is observed entering a car, obtain a description of the vehicle, license plate number and call your designated emergency contact number, 4-3550 or 911.
• Refrain discussing the event with anyone other than your Supervisor
• Resume normal activities when the "Code Pink All Clear" is announced.

III. Response if you find the child

A. General Response
• Remain calm and gently talk with the child
• Tell the child it is time to go see their parents
• Walk the child to the information desk to be reunited with family and to notify staff that code pink is all clear

If child refuses to go with you:
• Call, or instruct someone else to call, the front desk 6-6386
• Notify them that the child has been found and your location
• Staff will send parents to location of child
• Do not leave child unattended at any time

If child runs out of the building:
• Call campus security 4-3550 or 911, or have someone else call campus security.
• Attempt to keep child in view
• Also notify front desk 6-6386

Code Pink Script

In the event that there is a missing child/suspected abduction, a Code Pink is declared in the building. The following information should be announced over the PA system:

"Code Pink" followed by "Age, Race, Gender, Height, Weight, Clothing, area last seen, and any other descriptive features"

For Example: “Code Pink, 9-year old Caucasian male, 4 ft. 7 inches tall, 65 lbs, and wearing blue jeans, a red sweatshirt, and blue baseball cap. Last seen on the third floor near the elevators.”

This announcement should be repeated once immediately, and then every few minutes until the child is found.

If the missing child has a suspected abductor, this information should also be included over the PA system:

"Suspicious individual is Age, Race, Gender, Height, Weight, Clothing, area last seen, and any other descriptive features"

For Example: "Suspicious individual is a Caucasian male, 35-40 years old, approximately 5ft. 11 inches tall and 200 lbs. He is wearing blue jeans, a black sweatshirt, and has brown hair. Last seen on the third floor near the elevators."

Once the child is located "Code Pink All Clear" is announced.