“Run, Hide, Defend”: Reason revealed for replacement of Code Red term

On Nov. 16, the school practiced a  drill to simulate an armed intruder on campus. Previously, the annual drill was called Code Red, but it is now known as “Lockdown: Run, Hide, Defend.”

According to deputy Chad Garton, the school’s resource officer, schools are using the new terminology because the phrase “Code Red” was licensed by the woman who created the name.

“My understanding is that Code Red and Code Blue were trademarked and copyrighted and that lady possible sued another city in California for that,” Garton said. “However, it’s simply what I’ve heard as a rumor, so I’ve just been telling the teachers that that could be another possible reason for the name change.”’

Even without the possible legal complications, however, he said the county planned to change the name  to align with federal and statewide guidelines.

According to Garton, as of two years ago, the name Code Red was actually renamed Lockdown: Run, Hide, Defend and Code Blue was renamed Shelter in Place, but the county only implemented the change this year.

The new terms were preferred over the traditional terms because the new terms clearly explain what should be done during the drill or actual dangerous situation.

In addition to the new names, the lockdown drill has undergone some functional changes in response to learning more about actual incidents that have occurred in recent years, all with the goal of increasing student safety, he said.