Triage

TL;DR

Prioritising treatment based on injury severity.

What is Triage?

Triage is a systematic process used in emergencies to prioritise medical care and allocate resources based on the severity of injuries or illnesses. It involves rapidly assessing casualties to determine the order of treatment and transportation to medical facilities.

Triage categories typically include immediate (red), delayed (yellow), minimal (green), and expectant (black) based on the casualty's condition and potential for survival.

Key principles of triage include identifying life-threatening conditions that require immediate intervention, ensuring effective communication among responders, and reassessing casualties regularly to adjust priorities as needed.

Triage tags or color-coded systems help organise casualties and guide responders in allocating resources efficiently. Effective triage enhances the chances of survival and improves overall outcomes in mass casualty incidents or disasters.

Triage Steps

• Assess Breathing, Circulation, and Consciousness: Check if the person is breathing, has a pulse, and is responsive.
• Assign Priority: Categorise the urgency of each person’s condition.
• Provide Initial Care: Administer life-saving interventions as needed.

Takeaway to remember

Triage is the process of prioritising patients based on the severity of their conditions to ensure that those who need urgent care receive it first.

Reference

• First Aid eBook