Triage is a method for prioritizing treatment of victims in mass emergencies, derived from the French word ‘triar,’ meaning 'to separate out.' It quickly identifies those with life-threatening injuries who have the best chance for survival, categorizing patients based on their respiratory status, perfusion, and mental state. The START system, created in the 1980s, enables rapid assessment of victims in under 15 seconds and includes classifications for minor injuries and contaminants.

1. TRIAGE
KIRTTI

2.  Derived from a French word ‘triar’ which means
‘to separate out’
 A method of quickly identifying victims who have
immediately life-threatening injuries and who
have the best chance of surviving
 Use when the quantity severity of injuries
overwhelm the operative capacity of health
facilities .

3.  The principal of “first come” “first treat” is not
followed in mass emergencies
 Processing of determining the priorities patients
treatment based on their severity
 It consist of rapidly classifying the patients as
per the severities as High priorities
Low priorities

4. French
army
triage
centre
WW-1

5. The goal of managing a mass
casualty incident
 Priorities for transportation to the hospital
 Priorities for care in the field

9. START SYSTEM
 Created in the 1980’s by Hoag Hospital and the
Newport Beach CA Fire Dept
 Allows rapid assessment of victims
 It should not take more than 15 sec/ Pt
Once victim is in treatment area more detailed
assessment should be made Clasificación is
based on three items
 Respiratory
 Perfusion
 Mental status evaluation

11. START First Step
Can the Patient Walk?
Green
(Minor)
Evaluate Ventilation
(Step-2)

12. Ventilation Present?
YESNO
> 30/Min < 30/min
Evaluate Circulation
(Step-3)
Open Airway
Ventilation Present?
NO YES
Black
Red/
Immediate
Red/ Immediate
START Step-2

13. Circulation
Absent Radial Pulse Present Radial Pulse
Evaluate Level of
Consciousness
Red/ Immediate
START Step-3

14. START Step-4
Level of Consciousness
Can Follow Simple
Commands
Yellow/ DelayedRed/
Immediate
Can’t Follow Simple
Commands

15.  Patients with exposure (potential or real) to
contaminants should be tagged as BLUE
 This category will continue to stay until
patient is adequately decontaminated then
follow START as usual
 Some recommend a “double tagging” with
blue and the standard START color
Contaminated Patients

16. START-Overview
 Remember RPM
 R- Respirations- 30
 P- Perfusion- Radial Pulse
 M- Mental- Follows Commands

18.  References :
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triage#/media/File:Wounded_Triage
_France_WWI.jpg
 http://www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/95530/The-Sphere-Project-
Handbook-20111.pdf