code blue

noun

1. (often initial capital letters) a medical emergency in which paramedics are dispatched to aid a person undergoing cardiac arrest.

Word History and Origins

Origin of code blue¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Around an hour later, a “code blue” was called on her, records show.

From New York Times

His wife was getting a new port for her dialysis when staff at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence called a “code blue” Friday because she was unresponsive.

From Seattle Times

The nurses started CPR and a “code blue,” or medical emergency, team was called.

From Seattle Times

“What was really stressful about the situation was that we never had a real code blue in the center,” Davenport said.

From Seattle Times

Paula Donovan, who co-directs the Code Blue campaign to eliminate what it calls impunity for sexual misconduct in the U.N., described the WHO payments to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation as “perverse.”

From Washington Times