Why Some Light Switches Are Red In Hospitals

According to the most recent survey data from the American Hospital Association, there are nearly 6,100 hospitals across the United States. And in 2023, a little over 34.4 million Americans paid them a visit — and almost surely in many cases, not just out of sheer curiosity. 

But hospitals tend to be so bright and clean that, whether you actually wanted to be inside one or not, you probably couldn't help but be curious about the things around you. There are so many doors that lead to rooms full of sophisticated and very expensive equipment, many of which are in white (or light colors), which is why the occasional red switch on an odd wall or two probably caught your eye. In fact, you may have even wanted to try pressing it, just to see what would happen. (Absolutely do not let those intrusive thoughts win, though; here are some other things you should never do when visiting someone in the hospital.)

As it turns out, there's an important reason why some light switches, as well as sockets, are colored in stark contrast to nearly everything else — and it's to make sure that medical professionals will be able to use critical life-saving equipment, even in a pinch.

It's logical to expect that hospitals would be operating with a plan in case the power suddenly goes kaput. After all, there are many life-saving functions that are dependent on having consistent power. It is because of this that hospitals are required to have critical equipment in close proximity to outlets and switches that are connected to emergency backup power. That way, in case of an unexpected power outage, doctors and nurses would be able to act promptly (i.e., switch to emergency power while said life-saving equipment stays on), and patients' lives won't be put at risk.

Hospital backup power relies on both batteries and generators, and not just the latter, because in many cases, medical professionals simply cannot afford to have their equipment stop working, even for just a precious few seconds (for example, if there are patients on life support). Since it takes time for a generator powered by diesel, natural gas, or propane to start producing energy, the battery serves as a source of continuous power, which is why it's also referred to as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

However, because not all outlets are linked to backup power, the ones that are (whether they're switches or outlets) are red, informing the personnel's split-second decisions and making sure that crucial machinery will never be positioned far from emergency power.

Hospital light switches and sockets aren't the only electricity-related items that come in red; in certain cases, they may have red panels, too. Some types of red panels even bear a small green dot as a sign that they've been tested and verified to meet the quality standards of hospital use. 

But why red, anyway? The simple reason is that it's quite hard to ignore the color that we've come to associate with rage and bullfighting (though the latter is less about making the bull angry, as most people have been led to believe, and more about hiding the matador's bloodstains). Can you imagine being a doctor or nurse in an urgent situation, arms waving wildly as you're frantically trying to find a power outlet that actually works as the clock ticks away? To prevent that, the hospital needs to have instantly attention-grabbing emergency outlets and switches, hence the blood-red hue. (Speaking of emergencies, here's a list of things you should never do in the emergency room.)

By the way, in case you were curious about the other oddly specific colors you typically see in hospitals, you can read about the real reason operating rooms are green.