If You Hear A 'Code Brown' While Shopping, Get Out Of The Store Immediately | iHeart (2024)

Hearing an announcement over a store's intercom is a common occurrence for most shoppers - usually it's asking for employees to help out at busy registers or for someone to clean up a mess in an aisle. However, on rare occasions, other announcements are made using secret codes that only employees understand... until now.

The announcements are coded so that shoppers won't panic or cause further problems, and according to a thread on Quora, there are quite a few of them. One Walmart associate shared the ones they are aware of, starting with a "Code Brown," which means there has been a violent act at the store. Typically, it will be followed by instructions, but unless it is unsafe to leave, it might be in your best interest to get out and get some distance.

Brown isn't the only color code you might hear and for most of them, you'll still want to leave. A "Code Orange" signifies a chemical spill, a "Code Red" is a fire, a "Code Blue" is a bomb threat," "Code White" is an accident of some kind in the store and a "Code Green" is an active hostage situation. The only code where you probably shouldn't leave is a "Code Black," which indicates severe weather outside.

Not all codes are named after colors either. "Code Adam" alerts associates that a child in the store is missing. It is named after six-year-old Adam Walsh, who was abducted from a Florida Sears in 1981. A "Code 300" or "99," followed by a location code, is a request for security in that area.

There are also codes that don't reflect danger and are just easier ways for employees to communicate. "Code Spark" means more cashiers are needed up front, "Code 10" is a wet spill," "Code 20" is a dry spill, "Code 50" means shopping carts need to be gathered from the parking lot, "Code 1" is for a shoplifter and "Code C" just means a customer needs assistance.

The most important thing to remember though is that if you do hear a coded announcement, never panic since that won't help anyone.

If You Hear A 'Code Brown' While Shopping, Get Out Of The Store Immediately | iHeart (2024)

FAQs

What does code brown mean when you're shopping? ›

One Walmart associate shared the ones they are aware of, starting with a "Code Brown," which means there has been a violent act at the store. Typically, it will be followed by instructions, but unless it is unsafe to leave, it might be in your best interest to get out and get some distance.

What does code brown mean at Walmart? ›

Code Brown – When you hear this code, it means that there is a shooter on the premises. This indicates it's time to head to an exit, if you can. If you're not near an exit, make sure to follow employee instructions and remain calm.

What is a code 10 at a grocery store? ›

Code 10 - wet spill. Code 20 - dry spill. Code 50 - shopping carts are needed from the parking lot. Code 1 - shoplifter.

What is the code orange at Walmart? ›

Code Orange means there's a chemical spill, either inside or outside the store that requires help from employees.

What is code code brown? ›

Code Brown – Hazardous Spill

Stay away from the affected area. If you are in the affected area, stay with your family or support system.

What to do for Code Brown? ›

If you discover a spill or leak of a hazardous or unidentified material:
  1. Safely evacuate everyone from the immediate area.
  2. Prevent the spread of toxic fumes by closing doors and windows.
  3. Initiate spill procedure by calling 333.
  4. Leave all electrical equipment alone.

What is a code 4 at Walmart? ›

“Code 4” means everything is under control or the scene is safe.

What is a code 10 at Walmart? ›

Description. ​Code 10s are generated when there are discrepancies in allowances between the invoice and the PO. These could be differences in allowances either at the order/invoice level or the net cost of allowances at line item level.

What is the code 3 at Walmart? ›

What's the code for theft alert at Walmart? Code 3 is for when there is a missing child.

What is code 99 in a grocery store? ›

A "Code 300" or "99," followed by a location code, is a request for security in that area. There are also codes that don't reflect danger and are just easier ways for employees to communicate.

What is the code 50 at Walmart? ›

Code 50: Advertising Allowance (AA)

What is a code 11 at Hobby Lobby? ›

If you have been to a Hobby Lobby and heard a Code 11 paged, that could be a code that the store manager has implemented for something that is paged regularly but rather annoying or long winded to say, an example could be “All employees to the warehouse for a meeting”.

What happens if you hear a code brown at Walmart? ›

According to a US Sun article, a code brown indicates that there is a violent situation going on in the store. This could be anything from a fight breaking out to an active shooter in the store. The bottom line is if you hear a code brown being announced, you need to leave for your own safety.

What is code brown in a store? ›

According to Common Cents Mom, they're used by employees of these stores to prepare themselves for potentially dangerous situations while not causing panic for us shoppers. A 'Code Brown' means there is an active shooter in the store.

What is Code Adam at Walmart? ›

Code Adam is a missing-child safety program in the United States and Canada, originally created by Walmart retail stores in 1994. This type of alert is generally regarded as having been named in memory of Adam Walsh, the 6-year-old son of John Walsh (the host of Fox's America's Most Wanted).

What does code brown mean slang? ›

Wiktionary. The situation where a person defecates in an undesirable location (e.g. hospital bed or retail store ), requiring cleanup.

What do different color codes mean? ›

RED for fire. BLUE for adult medical emergency. WHITE for pediatric medical emergency. PINK for infant abduction.

What is the shoplifting code at Lowes? ›

Afaik, code 3 and 50 are the only ones that are used across the entire company and the others are made up from store to store.

How do you activate a code Brown? ›

ESCAPE: Evaluate the spill, Safely evacuate all staff, Conduct first aid or decontamination, Activate a code brown via 911, Prevent entry to spill area, Emergency response team will take over. The person in charge will activate a Code Brown after evaluating the spill.

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