Basic Triage Triage is implemented during emergency or disaster situations. Usually there are more victims than rescuers, limited resources, and time is critical. Triage begins at the site immediately and a healthcare worker must distinguish and evaluate first who needs immediate care.

Steps to Triage What has to happen first? Next? Evaluate the emergency or disaster: type of incident, number of victims, resources Ask questions: sort victims, find emergency team and plan Follow the systematic route to victims: start in and work out quickly Evaluate and tag each victim Treat victims Document triage results Every victim in the emergency or disaster must be triaged and categorized. In order for triage to be effective you should follow the following steps: Evaluate the emergency or disaster: type of incident, number of victims, resources Ask questions (Voice triage): sort victims, find emergency team and plan Follow the systematic route to victims: start in and work out quickly Evaluate and tag each victim Treat victims Document triage results

The Tag System There is an advanced triage system which involves color-coding using red, yellow, green, white, and black tags. This triage system is extremely helpful in an emergency or disaster situation that has an extremely large numbers of injuries. Use the worksheet “Triage!” and fill in the “Triage Categories” table as we go The Tag System There is an advanced triage system which involves color-coding using red, yellow, green, white, and black tags. This triage system is extremely helpful in an emergency or disaster situation that has an extremely large numbers of injuries. The following tag colors are: Red tags (immediate): Victims who cannot survive without immediate treatment but who have a chance of survival. Yellow tags (observation): Victims who require observation. The condition presents as stable for the moment and, no immediate danger of death. These injured will still need hospital care and would be treated immediately under normal circumstances. Green tags (wait): Victims who are wounded but can walk. They will need medical care at some point, after more critical injuries have been treated. White tags (dismiss): Victims with minor injuries for which a doctor's care is not required. Black tags (expectant): Victims who are dead or the injuries are so extensive that they will not be able to survive given the care that is available.

Red Tag - Immediate Victims who cannot survive without immediate treatment but who have a chance of survival. Typical Injuries: Airway & breathing difficulties Uncontrolled or severe bleeding Decreased level of consciousness Severe medical problems Shock (hypoperfusion) Severe burns

Yellow Tag - Delayed Victims who require observation. The condition presents as stable for the moment and, no immediate danger of death. These injured will still need hospital care and would be treated immediately under normal circumstances. Typical Injuries: Burns w/o airway problems Major or multiple bone or joint injuries Back injuries with or without spinal cord damage

Green Tag - Minor Victims who are wounded but can walk. They will need medical care at some point, after more critical injuries have been treated. Typical Injuries: Minor fractures Minor soft tissue injuries

Black Tag - Deceased Victims who are dead or the injuries are so extensive that they will not be able to survive given the care that is available. Typical Injuries: Obvious death Obviously non-survivable injury, such as major open brain trauma Full cardiac arrest