Triage is the process of prioritizing medical care during mass casualty incidents (MCIs) when resources are limited. Here’s a step-by-step guide for non-medical professionals:

1. Safety Assessment: Ensure the scene is secure before entering. Avoid secondary threats (e.g., terrorist bombs, timed explosives) by waiting until hazards are neutralized. Prioritize self-preservation to avoid becoming another casualty.

2. Size Up the Scene: Assess the type of incident (e.g., fire, explosion, crash), number of victims, severity of injuries, and available resources. Identify areas for treatment/transport, vehicle access, and victim distribution (clustered or spread out).

3. Send for Help: Notify emergency services immediately with clear details: incident type, location, number of injured, and specific needs (e.g., fire trucks, trauma kits). If isolated, use radios or walkie-talkies to alert base camps. Provide concise updates as conditions evolve.

4. Set Up Triage Zones: Designate areas for immediate care, delayed treatment, and transport. Establish entry/exit points for transport. Assign team leaders for triage, treatment, and transport if multiple helpers are present.

5. START Triage (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment): Conduct rapid assessments (30 seconds per patient) focusing on:
– Respirations
– Perfusion (circulation)
– Mental status
Control massive bleeding and clear airways only. Avoid extensive treatment during initial triage.

Triage Color Coding

  • Red Tag (Immediate): Life-threatening injuries (e.g., severe bleeding, airway obstruction). Requires urgent care.
  • Yellow Tag (Delayed): Injuries that can wait 2-4 hours (e.g., non-life-threatening fractures). Treated after red tags.
  • Green Tag (Minimal): Stable, ambulatory injuries (e.g., minor fractures). Can wait.
  • Black Tag (Expectant): Deceased or unlikely to survive (e.g., severe head trauma). No immediate care.

Key Actions: Focus on rapid assessment during primary triage. Use colored tags or tape to categorize victims. In resource-limited scenarios, many red/yellow tags may become black due to lack of advanced medical intervention. Basic triage knowledge enables non-medical personnel to prioritize care effectively during emergencies.

Preparation Tips: Include triage tags, communication devices (radios/walkie-talkies), first-aid supplies, and bleeding control supplies in emergency kits. Mental readiness for grim decisions is critical when professional help is delayed.

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