Mass Casualty and Disaster Triage Infographic-Mass Casualty and Disaster Triage Infographic

Mass Casualty and Disaster Triage Infographic

Pdf Summary

The document outlines the principles and systems of triage used in mass casualty incidents (MCIs) and disasters, which occur when the number of casualties exceeds available medical resources. MCIs can result from both natural and human-made events, such as floods, wildfires, and mass shootings.<br /><br />The main goal in such scenarios is to "do the greatest good for the most people," which involves rapid initial patient assessment and prioritizing treatment or transport based on available resources. This may include limited life-saving interventions such as airway repositioning, use of tourniquets, and administering antidotes.<br /><br />Triage systems categorize patients based on their injuries and likelihood of survival with timely treatment. Typical categories include:<br />- **Minor/Minimal**: Individuals with minor injuries who require medical care later.<br />- **Delayed**: Individuals with stable but serious injuries not immediately life-threatening.<br />- **Immediate**: Individuals with severe injuries that require immediate treatment for survival.<br />- **Expectant**: Individuals unlikely to survive due to resource limitations.<br />- **Deceased**: Individuals whose injuries are incompatible with life.<br /><br />Special algorithms exist for pediatric cases, accounting for physiological differences.<br /><br />Several specific triage systems are mentioned:<br />- **START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment)**<br />- **JumpSTART** for pediatric care<br />- **SALT (Sort, Assess, Life-saving interventions, and Treatment/Transport)**<br />- **Reverse Triage**<br />- **SIEVE and CARE FLIGHT Triage**<br />- **HOMEBUSH Triage**<br /><br />These systems stem from algorithmic approaches where various types, including SALT and Reverse Triage, are commonly used to optimize patient outcomes based on different scenarios like chemical or biological events.<br /><br />Overall, triage systems must be adaptable and might vary in practice to fit specific patient or institutional needs, acknowledging that recommendations can change with new advances and are not prescriptive or guaranteed to produce specific outcomes.

Keywords

triage

mass casualty incidents

disasters

medical resources

patient assessment

treatment prioritization

START system

JumpSTART

SALT triage

Reverse Triage