What does 10-18 mean?

• A. Urgent
• B. Location
• C. En-Route
• D. Affirmative

Answer: (A)

Ten-codes are a shorthand way to convey status quickly on the radio. A signal of 10-18 signifies that the situation is urgent and requires immediate action from units and dispatch. It flags that time is critical, so responders should prioritize this call, proceed with haste as appropriate, and coordinate closely with dispatch to ensure rapid support. It is not a location update (that would be something like a 10-20), not an en-route status, and not an affirmative acknowledgment (which is typically 10-4). Keep in mind that some agencies use plain language or different codes, so always know your local equivalents, but the intent of 10-18 as urgent remains widely understood.