Exposed: Revealing The Secret Code Words We’re Not Supposed To Notice

Mishaps can happen anywhere in this world, including in public places. And the professionals who respond to these issues will have to be discreet if the place is large and secure, like an airport or a hospital.

Because while it's important to get the right message to the right person in these crisis situations, they can only be made worse if everyone in earshot is panicking. Therefore, some organizations devise code words that sound innocent enough but carry much more serious meanings for those in the know.

Mayday

"Mayday" is an accepted international code word used to signal distress and urgently request help. The code word Mayday comes from French and is translated as "Help me."

Robert Hays nervously flying airplane as Ted Striker in Airplane
Paramount Pictures via MovieStillsDb
Paramount Pictures via MovieStillsDb

According to ATC Communication, a pilot will transmit the radio signal "Mayday" to indicate emergency situations that either caused them to lose control of the plane or that started an onboard fire. The radio signal then serves as an alert for other pilots, air control towers, and rescue teams to be prepared to offer assistance. This is perhaps the best-known code word because of how many movies it's appeared in.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code 10

ADVERTISEMENT

"Code 10" is a phrase used by store employees as a discreet way to alert credit card companies and other staff of a customer's potential credit card fraud. According to the Financial Department at UC Santa Cruz, employees or their supervisors will use this code when calling a relevant company's voice authorization center.

Tom Hanks examining check as Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can
Dreamworks Pictures via MovieStillsDb
Dreamworks Pictures via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

They will then speak to an agent trained to ask a series of yes or no questions so as not to arouse the fraudster's suspicions. Code 10 calls can also be made after the cardholder has already left to prevent further fraud incidents.

ADVERTISEMENT

Time Check

ADVERTISEMENT

As Metro reported, some department stores — like John Lewis in the U.K. — will implement a code system that sees an employee call for a "time check" over the public address system.

ADVERTISEMENT
Keanu Reeves defusing explosive as Jack Traven in Speed
Twentieth Century Fox via MovieStillsDb
Twentieth Century Fox via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

But while it may sound mundane, this code alerts other employees that the person giving the warning has reason to believe that someone planted an explosive device on the premises. Whether it's because of a threat or a suspicious package, a "time check" should serve as an immediate sign that it's time to leave the store.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mr. Mob or Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

ADVERTISEMENT

It seems to depend on the cruise line, but there are some cruise ships where a passenger could suddenly hear a call for "Mr. Mob" or simply the code phrase "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" over the boat's PA system.

ADVERTISEMENT
man with eyes and hand above water
Gage Walker/unsplash
Gage Walker/unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

And according to reports from ABC 33 and Cruise Ship Traveller, both of these codes indicate that someone has fallen overboard. After all, "mob" stands for "man overboard," and Oscar corresponds to "O" in the military alphabet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pan-Pan

ADVERTISEMENT

Pilots use the code word "pan-pan" as a means of communication to indicate an urgent but not life-threatening situation. This code word is useful for pilots because it allows for a clear priority system in radio communication. By using the code word "pan-pan," pilots can quickly and effectively notify other pilots and air traffic control of their situation.

ADVERTISEMENT
pilots flying aiplane with scenery visible
Zorgist/pixabay
Zorgist/pixabay
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

As for what kind of situations call for this phrase, ATC Communication explained that it's typically used when a system failure on the plane requires an altitude or route change. The other most common use is when the pilot loses track of their location.

ADVERTISEMENT

Inspector Sands

ADVERTISEMENT

Inspector Sands is a code phrase used in the U.K. to alert staff that there is a fire hazard in the area. In response to a freedom of information request, Transport for London explained that an automated message summoning "Inspector Sands" plays when the fire alarm is activated in the London underground. It's also used throughout the U.K.'s rail systems and airports.

ADVERTISEMENT
woman looking out train window at fire
Aaron Thomas/unsplash
Aaron Thomas/unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

When the phrase is declared, staff quickly spring into action to investigate the area and alert fire services if the fire is genuine. The code phrase is intended to avoid panic among passengers, especially in cases of false alarms.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code Adam

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the Hawaiian government's website, Code Adam is a child safety program first implemented in 1994 by Walmart associates. The program was created in honor of Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old boy who was abducted from a Florida department store in 1981. Code Adam serves as a protocol for employees of certain stores and businesses to follow upon the indication that a child may have been lost or separated from his/her caregiver.

ADVERTISEMENT
Macaulay Culkin looking shocked as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2 Lost In New York
Twentieth Century Fox via MovieStillsDb
Twentieth Century Fox via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The employee will announce a "Code Adam" over the store's public address system, which informs all employees in the building that a child has gone missing and that law enforcers have not arrived yet. The employee will then physically describe the missing child to those in the vicinity while other staff members search the store and contact the police.

ADVERTISEMENT

Operation Rising Star

ADVERTISEMENT

Although many secret codes warn authorized personnel about urgent situations unfolding in public places, the code "Operation Rising Star" usually informs cruise ship employees that the danger has already taken its toll.

ADVERTISEMENT
casket adorned with flowers being loaded into hearse
adrianna geo/unsplash
adrianna geo/unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to ABC 33, this cruise ship code is supposed to indicate that a passenger has died. Or at the very least, that a life-threatening medical emergency has occurred.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code 1 through Code 7

ADVERTISEMENT

Time Out magazine reported that London Underground employees have a series of numbered codes intended to warn colleagues about the messes they need to clean up on a given platform.

ADVERTISEMENT
An employee cleans the outside of a train used on the Northern Line of  the London Underground network, at the Morden Traincare Centre, operated
 by Alstom SA, in London, U.K., on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

To wit, Code 1 is meant to indicate blood stains, while Code 2 refers to urine and feces. Code 3 refers to vomit, and Code 4 indicates another liquid has been spilled. Code 5 refers to broken glass, Code 6 refers to careless litter from passengers, and Code 7 covers everything that doesn't fit into these other categories.

ADVERTISEMENT

7500

ADVERTISEMENT

The number 7500 is an internationally recognized distress code used by pilots. It is used to indicate that the aircraft is under an act of unlawful interference, such as piracy, hijacking, or sabotage. By using this code, all other aircraft, air traffic control, and other entities are alerted to the danger and can take measures to assist the aircraft.

ADVERTISEMENT
the cast of 7500 looking scared in plane seats
Ozla Pictures/CBS Films via MovieStillsDb
Ozla Pictures/CBS Films via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, pilots who use the 7500 code can expect fighter jets to assist and escort the aircraft to a military base.

ADVERTISEMENT

Star Code, Mr. Skylight, or Alpha

ADVERTISEMENT

As The Daily Telegraph reported, which of these code phrases a cruise ship passenger is likely to hear over the loudspeaker seems to depend on the cruise line. However, they all refer to the same situation: A medical emergency taking place on board.

ADVERTISEMENT
Crew member walking on cruise ship deck
Billeasy/unsplash
Billeasy/unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

And that emergency is typically a life-threatening one as the well-known "code blue" warning heard in hospitals is also sometimes used on cruise ships for this purpose.

ADVERTISEMENT

PEBKAC

ADVERTISEMENT

PEBKAC (pronounced PEB-kack) is an acronym that stands for Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. It is a polite way of implying that a computer problem is the fault of the user rather than the computer itself.

ADVERTISEMENT
woman in glasses biting down on pencil in front of laptop
JESHOOTS.COM/unsplash
JESHOOTS.COM/unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to Lenovo, common examples of PEBKAC errors include people forgetting passwords, accidentally deleting files, mistyping URLs, or not regularly updating their software. In the right contexts, all of these can lead to issues that the user mistakes for a computer malfunction rather than their own errors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Treasured Guest

ADVERTISEMENT

As The New York Post reported, it's not uncommon for Disneyland cast members to use the phrase "treasured guest" when referring to certain customers. Despite how it sounds, this name describes park guests who are unruly, rude, or otherwise causing problems for staff.

ADVERTISEMENT
Attendees stand for pictures with Marvel's Hulk wearing Mickey ears  during the D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim, California, U.S., on Friday, Aug. 
23, 2019.
Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Although the name likely does prevent irate guests from becoming even angrier, the park's policy against employees using negative or insulting language in front of guests necessitated this code phrase.

ADVERTISEMENT

7700

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, all available air traffic controllers will find themselves on high alert if a pilot enters the code 7700 into their radar transponder.

ADVERTISEMENT
man screaming while holding snake in Snakes on a Plane
New Line Cinema via MovieStillsDb
New Line Cinema via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

That's because that code indicates that an emergency is unfolding, but that's about all it's telling people. 7700 is a code used for general emergencies that can encompass everything from medical emergencies to engine failures to loss of cabin pressure.

ADVERTISEMENT

Protein Spill or Code V

ADVERTISEMENT

Given the target demographic of Disneyland and other Disney parks, hearing cast members mention a "protein spill" or a "Code V" is likely a fairly common occurrence.

ADVERTISEMENT
Disneyland Theme Park in Anaheim, California
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to The New York Post, that's because these are the terms employees use for a guest vomiting on the premises. Thus, their "protein spill" creates a "Code V" situation until somebody mops it up.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code Red

ADVERTISEMENT

Although this is commonly understood to refer to any emergency, the term "code red" has a much more specific context among cruise lines.

ADVERTISEMENT
Paramedics dressed in hazmat suits assist the evacuation of cruiseships  crew members with respiratory symptoms associated with coronavirus 
(COVID-19) at the Coast Guardâs Miami Beach station, in Miami, Florida, 
United States on March 26, 2020.
Marco Bello/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Marco Bello/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Daily Telegraph reported that this code phrase refers to an infectious disease outbreak within a given ship. This kind of alert typically signals that the ship will need a deep cleaning and that affected passengers should be quarantined.

ADVERTISEMENT

Echo

ADVERTISEMENT

As The Daily Telegraph reported, the code word "echo" could refer to a variety of issues impeding a cruise ship on the way to its destination.

ADVERTISEMENT
Rescue workers search and clean up rooms in the lifted cruise ship on June 7, 2015 in Jianli, China.
Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

So if a staff member on a cruise liner says "echo, echo, echo" over the PA system, they could be warning others of high winds or warning that the ship is starting to drift. Worst of all, they could also be suggesting that it's in danger of colliding with another vessel.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code Bravo

ADVERTISEMENT

"Code Bravo" is an announcement made by airport personnel when there is a security threat or other emergency at the airport. This alert notifies those within the airport of the situation and asks them to be cautious. It also directs personnel to take action to address the threat or emergency and request additional help if needed.

ADVERTISEMENT
Aviation security staff organized in the public transport sector union  Verdi gather for a demonstration during a strike at the airport of 
Duesseldorf, western Germany, on April 20, 2023.
Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images
Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to The Daily Express, a "code bravo" situation involving a suspicious person could see staff demand surrounding travelers to freeze in place. That way, whoever they're looking for becomes easier to find.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code 18

ADVERTISEMENT

Its designation may make a Code 18 sound ominous, which is likely why the code phrase is used in the first place. But in reality, it's another way for IT professionals to designate that a tech problem is the result of human error rather than a software or hardware malfunction.

ADVERTISEMENT
daniel-thomas-gWlBxOAgXgQ-unsplash
Daniel Thomas/Unsplash
Daniel Thomas/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

As for why the code has that name, it's because the average computer user sits about 18 inches from their screen.

ADVERTISEMENT

7600

ADVERTISEMENT

When pilots enter four-digit numeric codes like this, they do so via a radar transponder found among the plane's radio equipment. And there are few codes more important to communicate during a flight than 7600.

ADVERTISEMENT
person holding broken phone with cracked screen
Getty Images/unsplash+
Getty Images/unsplash+
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, this code tells the control tower that the pilot has lost its radio capabilities during flight and cannot communicate with the tower. That pilot then tries their best to land at the intended airport while those at the control tower coordinate with other flights.

ADVERTISEMENT

Code Winnie

ADVERTISEMENT

As The New York Post reported, this code phrase is typically used by staff working on Disney's cruise line.

ADVERTISEMENT
Winnie The Pooh happily pointing to sign while holding red balloon
Walt Disney Pictures via MovieStillsDb
Walt Disney Pictures via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

When a guest (usually a child) either urinates or voids their bowels in one of the ship's pools, it's known as a "Code Winnie." After all, Winnie is usually called Winnie the Pooh.

ADVERTISEMENT

10-80 and 10-79

ADVERTISEMENT

Many of the codes that someone on a police radio band might use begin with the number 10, but some of these codes indicate much more serious situations than others.

ADVERTISEMENT
george-c--VwSJnxXJGo-unsplash
George C./Unsplash+
George C./Unsplash+
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

For instance, a list of police codes obtained by Stanford University lists the code "10-80" as describing a mysterious explosion. As for 10-79, this code indicates that a perpetrator has threatened to use an explosive that has yet to go off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Disco Rice

ADVERTISEMENT

As The New York Times reported, workers in the New York Sanitation Department have a few colorful code phrases for the discarded items and uninvited guests they deal with in people's trash.

ADVERTISEMENT
Maggot Farming From Kitchen Waste In Indonesia
Aman Rochman/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Aman Rochman/NurPhoto via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

In the latter case, a bag that a sanitation worker describes as containing "disco rice" should not be opened by anyone who doesn't want to see a bunch of maggots.

ADVERTISEMENT

10-45

ADVERTISEMENT

When assessing an injured party's condition, police dispatchers will use the code "10-45." Based on a list of police codes obtained by Stanford University, they can then expect to hear the same code followed by a letter from the officer on the scene.

ADVERTISEMENT
Dominic West holding cell phone up to his face as James McNulty in The Wire
HBO via MovieStillsDb
HBO via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

If that officer answers, "10-45A," it means the patient is relatively unharmed. If the letter B is used, it means the patient's condition is serious. The letter C indicates that the patient's condition is critical, while the letter D suggests that it's already too late for them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Charlie

ADVERTISEMENT

As ABC 33 reported, Charlie is one of the many emergency codes used by cruise ship crews to communicate potentially dangerous situations without alarming or disturbing passengers.

ADVERTISEMENT
georgy-trofimov-xEJoSsDCnR8-unsplash
Georgy Trofimov/Unsplash
Georgy Trofimov/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

And the Charlie code is a particularly serious one because it indicates that a security threat has made it on board. It shouldn't take much imagination to picture what that could mean.

ADVERTISEMENT

10-91

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Stanford University, anytime a police officer uses a "10-91" code on their radios, they're referring to an animal. However, that animal's status depends greatly on the letter code that comes after that number.

ADVERTISEMENT
Eddie Murphy examining rats as Dr. John Dolittle in Doctor Dolittle
Twentieth Century Fox via MovieStillsDb
Twentieth Century Fox via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

For example, a "10-91A" refers to a stray animal, while a "10-91B" usually refers to a neighborhood pet making a lot of noise. Other codes in this category can refer to stray horses (H), animal bites (E), vicious animals (V), injured animals (C), and creatures who have passed away (D).

ADVERTISEMENT

Zulu

ADVERTISEMENT

Although many of the cruise ship emergency codes that use military letters refer to undesirable phenomena that found their way aboard, the "Zulu" code indicates that passengers who are supposed to be there aren't getting along.

ADVERTISEMENT
Man in gi holding nunchaku while screaming as another man in a gi performs a flying kick
Thao LEE/unsplash
Thao LEE/unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Specifically, a Zulu code heard over the ship's PA system is a warning to the crew that a fight has broken out on board.

ADVERTISEMENT

Red Party

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Royal Caribbean cruises do genuinely feature a social event known as the Red Party, that isn't what this code phrase typically means on cruise ships.

ADVERTISEMENT
Erwin Leder as Johann in Das Boot
Columbia Pictures via MovieStillsDb
Columbia Pictures via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

According to ABC 33, a message warning of a "red party" on a cruise ship loudspeaker usually indicates that a fire has started on board. The military letter "Bravo" is also sometimes used to describe this situation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Purell

ADVERTISEMENT

If cruise ship passengers hear someone say "Purell, Purell, Purell" over the ship's PA system, it's not meant as an impromptu advertisement for the hand sanitizer manufacturer.

ADVERTISEMENT
A person uses a hand sanitizer
Noam Galai/Getty Images
Noam Galai/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Instead, ABC 33 reported that they're actually requesting a cleanup from their fellow crew members because some of the passengers have made a big mess in a public area of the vessel.

ADVERTISEMENT

White Powder Alert

ADVERTISEMENT

At first glance, this Disneyland code phrase sounds like it refers to an emergency involving a dangerous white powder. But cast members aren't referring to anthrax or any other illicit substance when they use this phrase.

ADVERTISEMENT
Kristen Stewart laying unconscious next to apple in Snow White and the Huntsman
Universal Studios via MovieStillsDb
Universal Studios via MovieStillsDb
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

However, what they are describing is just as sensitive. According to The New York Post, it's not unheard of for guests with a departed loved one to scatter their ashes at a Disney park illegally. Until those ashes are cleaned up, they constitute a "white powder alert."