Mass casualty incident triage

Background

• Used by first responders to quickly classify victims during a mass casualty incident (MCI) based on the severity of their injury

Classification

• Four categories:
  • Immediate (red)
  • Delayed (yellow)
  • Walking wounded/minor (green)
  • Deceased/expectant (black)

Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START)

• Able to walk relocate to a certain area (green)
• Non-ambulatory patients are then assessed
  • No respirations --> position airway
    • No respirations (black)
    • Respirations (immediate)
  • Yes respirations
    • >30/min (immediate)
    • <30 --> check perfusion
      • Radial pulse absent OR CRT >2 seconds
        • Control bleeding (immediate)
      • Radial pulse present OR CRT <2 seconds ---> check mental status
        • Can't follow simple commands (immediate)
        • Can follow simple commands (delayed)

See also

• First responders