Hear “Code Brown?” Montana Shoppers Be Aware of Possible Threats

It has been quite some time since I worked a retail sales job. To be honest, i don't miss it much. Especially around the holidays. Retail workers have a tough job this time of year. From the never-ending flood of customers to the drama that some bring along with them. Sometimes that drama can escalate into a problem.

Most retail stores have a code system that they use to inform employees of issues in the store. These codes can be anything from a simple "clean up on aisle nine" to "some crazy guy locked himself in the beer cooler." The purpose of the codes is to alert employees without making customers uncomfortable.

Some universally used codes range from weather alerts to fire alerts. These codes are much like the universal hospital codes.

CODE BLACK: "Severe Weather" outside, standby for information on what action to take.

CODE ORANGE: There is a "Chemical Spill."

CODE RED: There is a fire somewhere in the store.

CODE WHITE: There has been an accident in the store

CODE BLUE: A bomb threat has been made

CODE GREEN: Hostage situation

Rarely are you going to hear any of these over the intercom while shopping in Montana. Sadly, with the news of mass shootings becoming commonplace in our everyday lives, you may someday hear a "CODE BROWN" mentioned over a retail store's intercom.

CODE BROWN: Act of violence or an active shooter is nearby/inside the store.

According to an article from Yahoo News, here is what to do if you hear a CODE BROWN

An act of violence could mean you and those around you are in danger, which is why you need to follow any instructions from management or employees. It's important not to immediately run, shout, or cause a commotion when hearing the announcement, as this could escalate the situation and incite panic in fellow shoppers.

Montana is truly the "Last Best Place." We don't seem to have very many reports of serious acts of violence in public places. But, we are not immune to the possibility of finding ourselves in a situation that requires us to think quickly to ensure our safety.