With all the different hospitals around the country, you would think everyone would have the same colors represent the same problems. For example, if you are on the West Coast, yellow tells you a patient is at the risk of falling, red indicates an allergy warning, and purple means do not resuscitate. If you are on the East Coast, however, blue indicates do not resuscitate.

This push to have all identification wristbands color-coded comes after a patient was misidentified and treated in 2005. A nurse moved from one hospital to another and used a blue wristband on the patient to indicate the patient was allergic to latex. In the nurse’s previous hospital, the color blue indicated an allergy. In her new hospital, the color blue indicated do not resuscitate. When the patient declined the nursing staff did not take action because of the blue wristband.

Approximately 12 states participate in this safety initiative to help cut down on hospital errors. Hopes are that if the wristbands are consistent with patient conditions it will cut down on medical malpractice claims filed.

Starting January 1, 2008, the Arizona health system will move to a four color-coded wristband. Pink for restricted extremity, red for allergy, purple for do not resuscitate and yellow for fall risk. The East Coast, however, still plans on using blue for do not resuscitate, but the other colors are uniform. Currently there is research being conducted to see which states have made a change to color-coded wristbands to see how they can make the next step–making the whole country use the same color-coded system. There even has been a new color added–Green which will represent a patient is allergic to latex.