If you’re browsing the aisles of a Utah Walmart and “code brown” rings out over the tannoy, it’s time to leave as quickly as possible . While most shoppers might not bat an eyelid at these codes, knowing what they mean could be a lifesaver.
The use of such codes likely started with Code Adam , a child abduction prevention scheme launched by Walmart in 1994 across its US and Canadian outlets.
The code is named after Adam Walsh, a six-year-old boy who was tragically kidnapped from a Sears store in Hollywood, Florida , in 1981.
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Adam’s case sent shockwaves through America, thrusting his father into the limelight as he went on to present Fox’s America’s Most Wanted. Code Adam has since become widespread, with Walmart even hosting workshops to help other department stores put it into practice.
In essence, Code Adam triggers a lockdown while staff carry out a thorough search for a missing child. It’s now used in various places, including amusement parks, museums, and government buildings.