Code Black Training

In most US hospitals, Code Black refers to a bomb threat — not a violent or aggressive person. If that’s what Code Black means at your facility, this specific page isn’t the right fit; you’ll want bomb threat and security response protocols rather than behavioral de-escalation training.

However, a number of facilities do use Code Black to mean a violent, aggressive or threatening individual instead — the same scenario covered by other hospitals’ Code Grey or Code Silver alerts. If that’s how your organization defines it, you’re in the right place.

Resolution Education specializes in BERT Training (Behavioral Emergency Response Teams), which we build entirely around your organization’s actual definitions and procedures rather than assuming a single universal meaning. Because hospital codes vary so widely — even between facilities in the same city — we start every engagement by confirming exactly what your Code Black covers, who responds, and how it’s activated.

From there, we train your team to recognize the early warning signs of escalation, communicate in a way that calms rather than inflames the situation, and coordinate safely as a team once the code is called. Where a physical response is genuinely necessary, we also cover safe restraint techniques designed to protect both your staff and the individual involved.

All training is delivered through realistic, scenario-based practice and live demonstration, so your team walks away with rehearsed confidence rather than a binder they’ve only read once.

Not sure whether your Code Black is a security threat or a behavioral one? Get in touch and we’ll help you confirm the right training for your facility.