According to the latest survey data from the American Hospital Association, there are nearly 6,100 hospitals across the United States. In 2023, a little over 34.4 million Americans visited them, not just out of curiosity.
Hospitals are usually bright and clean, so whether you wanted to be there or not, you might find yourself curious about your surroundings. There are many doors leading to rooms filled with sophisticated and expensive equipment, often in white or light colors, making the occasional red switch on a wall stand out. You might even feel tempted to press it to see what happens. (However, resist those impulsive thoughts; here are some other things you should avoid doing when visiting someone in the hospital.)
There’s a significant reason why some light switches and sockets are in stark contrast to almost everything else — to ensure that medical professionals can use critical life-saving equipment, even in emergencies.
Why some hospital switches and sockets are red
It’s logical to expect hospitals to have a plan if the power suddenly fails. After all, many life-saving functions depend on consistent power. Therefore, hospitals are required to have critical equipment near outlets and switches connected to emergency backup power. In the event of an unexpected power outage, doctors and nurses can quickly switch to emergency power, ensuring that life-saving equipment remains operational, protecting patients’ lives.
Hospital backup power relies on both batteries and generators, not just the latter. Medical professionals often cannot afford to have their equipment stop working, even for a few seconds, such as when patients are on life support. It takes time for a generator powered by diesel, natural gas, or propane to start producing energy, so the battery serves as a source of continuous power, hence the term uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
However, since not all outlets are linked to backup power, those that are (whether switches or outlets) are red, guiding personnel’s split-second decisions and ensuring crucial machinery is never far from emergency power.
So, why red?
Hospital light switches and sockets aren’t the only electricity-related items that come in red; in some cases, they may have red panels too. Some types of red panels even feature a small green dot as a sign they’ve been tested and verified to meet hospital quality standards.
But why red? The simple reason is that it’s hard to ignore a color often associated with urgency and attention. Imagine being a doctor or nurse in an urgent situation, frantically searching for a power outlet that works as time ticks away. To prevent such scenarios, hospitals use instantly attention-grabbing red for emergency outlets and switches. (Speaking of emergencies, here’s a list of things you should never do in the emergency room.)
If you’re curious about the other oddly specific colors you typically see in hospitals, you can read about the real reason operating rooms are green.
