If You Hear ‘Code Brown’ At A California Walmart, Leave Immediately

You've probably heard a code over the intercom at Walmart while you were shopping, and it never even crossed your mind. You and everyone else in the store just went on with your shopping and may not have even noticed. After reading this, you will hear them every time, and one day, you may even be thankful that you know what Walmart's codes mean. Knowledge is power and, in this case, might even save your life.

How Did Walmart Codes Start?

No one knows how most of these codes came to be or what the significance of some of them is, but it likely started with "Code Adam." Code Adam is a program Walmart started in 1994 at all of its stores in the United States and Canada to prevent child abduction. It is named after Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old boy who was taken from a Sears store in Hollywood, Florida, in 1981. His severed head was found two weeks later. The crime shook the country and made his father a prominent figure. He went on to host "America's Most Wanted" on Fox. Code Adam is widespread, and Walmart has held workshops to help other department stores implement it. It is used at amusement parks, museums, and even government buildings. Code Adam essentially locks a store down while employees do a complete sweep of the store looking for a missing child.

What Other Codes Does Walmart Use?

Many other codes used at Walmart allow for a coordinated response by its employees to handle various situations without causing panic or confusion. We don't know how each code was chosen, but they wanted it to be easy to remember yet distinct from others. These codes are so effective that many other retailers use them in their California stores.

Knowing these will help you understand what the employees are dealing with and could even save your life.