We live in a crazy world these days.

I was always taught to be aware of my surroundings. Expect the unexpected. No matter where I go. A concert, a movie theater, a mall, a sporting event, whatever. Hopefully I’ve instilled those same feelings in my son. You just never know.

Did you know that most retail stores have a color-coded system to communicate important messages to their employees?

They use color codes because they are short and easy to understand and work well for employees who don’t speak English very well.

I recently met with a Bismarck police officer to discuss these codes, and they were confirmed by a retail friend who has worked in retail stores throughout North Dakota.

The color codes are usually pretty consistent across stores (including Walmart), but there may be slight differences between them. Some of these colors require you to act immediately, protect your family, and GET OUT.

Some of the most dangerous color codes you may hear over the intercom in a retail store include:

BROWN: That means there’s going to be violence in the store. There might even be a shooting. Again, GET OUT!

GREEN: This usually means a hostage situation. Again, GET OUT.

RED: Another “GET OUT” signal. Although you have time to assess the situation. It means there is a fire in the store.

BLUE: Another MAJOR OUTBREAK. A bomb threat has been reported against the store.

Less dangerous color codes that you should still know include:

WHITE: ⬜ This means there was an injury in the business.

BLACK: ⬛ This means severe weather is in the area. The best place for this is probably the store.

ORANGE: This indicates a chemical hazard of some kind. You should probably leave this location as soon as possible.

ADAM: That means a lost child. I’ve been that child in a store before. No fun.

Protect your family, educate them about these colors and always be ready to take action.

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