TRIAGE & IMMOBILIZATION

TRIAGE  The process of deciding which patients should be treated first based on how sick or seriously injured they are  The sorting of patients according to the urgency of their need for care  The process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition

TRIAGE Triage separates the injured into four groups: The expectant who are beyond help The injured who can be helped by immediate transportation The injured whose transport can be delayed Those with minor injuries, who need help less urgently

TRIAGE Triage also sets priorities for evacuation and transport as follows: Deceased are left where they fell. These people are not breathing and an effort to reposition their airway has been unsuccessful. Immediate (red) evacuation by MEDEVAC if available or ambulance as they need advanced medical care at once or within 1 hour. These people are in critical condition and would die without immediate assistance. Delayed (yellow) can have their medical evacuation delayed until all immediate persons have been transported. These people are in stable condition but require medical assistance. Minor (green) are not evacuated until all immediate and delayed persons have been evacuated. These will not need advanced medical care for at least several hours. Continue to re-triage in case their condition worsens. These people are able to walk, and may only require bandages and antiseptic

IMMOBILIZATION  Injuries to the head and neck can occur in many ways Example: unrestrained person in a MVA striking the windshield; diver striking the bottom of a pool; fall from a significant height and landing in the standing position; child falling from heights 2-3x their height  Injuries to the spinal column may impair breathing and lead to paralysis and death

IMMOBILIZATION  Signs/Symptoms of spinal injury: paralysis to arms/legs; weakness, tingling or numbness in arms/legs; pain/tenderness along back of neck or spine; pain with or without movement; loss of bowel or bladder control; difficult or labored breathing with little or no movement of the chest

IMMOBILIZATION  If any of these signs/symptoms are found, procedures must be followed to prevent further injury  Manual stabilization of the head and neck if the first procedure performed once the scene has been deemed safe  Manual stabilization is applied when injury to spinal column is suspected based on mechanism of injury, history of the incident, or signs/symptoms are consistent with spinal injuries