Triage

What is Triage?

~ Assessing and Assisting for More than One Victim ~

If you encounter an accident scene where there is more than one victim, you will need to prioritize your care to help the most number of people.

Try to assess the victims as quickly as possible by type…timing is critical so doing so within the first minute or so is the goal.

The first step is classifying the injured victims into four groups.

1. Critical Injuries (Immediate)– These are people with life threatening injuries that may be cared for successfully by your immediate care. ~ Examples may include respiratory arrest, airway obstruction, heart attack, severe bleeding, severe shock, severe burns, open chest wounds, abdominal wounds, unconscious/unresponsive victims & spinal injuries.
2. Serious Injuries (Delayed) – These are people who do not have life-threatening injuries and the victim appears to be in stable condition. Examples may include bone fractures, moderate bleeding, moderate burns or other illnesses which are not life threatening.
3. Walking Injured (Minor) – These people may be injured, but are able to move and walk on their own. They will probably appear to be stable and should be asked to move to a safe location to be treated later.
4. Fatal Injuries (Deceased) – These are people who are most likely biologically dead. Examples may include victims who have been decapitated or have severed trunks, have exposed brain matter, have burns over 90% of their bodies, or victims who have been in cardiac arrest for more than 20 minutes, but have not been exposed to cold weather or cold water drowning.

Do not move any victim unless they are in an area which is more life threatening than their injuries.

• Triage situations are extremely stressful and traumatic…
• Try to remain calm and do the best you can.
• If you follow these guidelines, you may be able to help several people.
• Remember to always activate EMS so help is on the way

Triage Supplies

 

Everything for START Triage (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) from Triage Tags and Triage Tarps to Triage Incident Command & Triage Units on Wheels, Triage Tape: Minor, Morgue, Delayed, Immediate.