The document outlines triage protocols for mass casualty incidents. Patients are categorized into four priorities: Immediate (Priority 1), Urgent (Priority 2), Delayed (Priority 3), and Dead (Priority 0). Priority 1 patients have life-threatening injuries requiring immediate treatment, such as an open head wound with uncontrolled bleeding. Priority 2 patients require urgent care for serious injuries, like an injured patient who is awake and oriented. Priority 3 patients have minor injuries or are ambulatory and can wait for delayed treatment, like a patient with a broken arm. Patients who cannot be resuscitated and will die despite care are classified as deceased. The goal is to balance resources with casualties to provide care to those who can benefit most.

1. Incident Command System
Expectant Minimal Delayed
Transport Treatment
Immediate
Triage
Emergency Dept.

2. Triage Coding
 PriorityTreatment Colour
 Immediate 1
 Urgent 2
 Delayed 3
 Dead 0 Black
RED
Yellow
Green

3. Primary Triage
The first attempt at balancing resources
and casualties/injured

4. PRIORITY 3
Not injured or “Walking wounded”
Have motor, respiratory, mental
function
DELAYED

5. Example
Patient walks over to
you and has an obvious
broken arm.
Respirations are 22
Pulse is 124 (Radial)
He is awake, alert, and
crying

6. Primary Triage
 Determining whether there is an airway
and breathing
 If breathing, at what rate & is it good
enough?
 They have an airway, are breathing. Are
they circulating blood sufficiently?

7.  A
 B
 C
 Mental
Status
Primary Triage

8. • Opening airway, starts to breathe
• Breathing is greater than 30 or less than 10
• Delayed capillary refill time (> 2 seconds)
• Absent radial pulses
• Bleeding that needs to be controlled
• Does not follow instructions
PRIORITY 1
Immediate

9. Example
 Patient has an open head
 Wound, bleeding controlled
 Respirations are 16
 Pulse is 88 (Radial)
 He is unconscious

10.  Urgent
 • Did not move out, when asked
 • Airway OK
 • Breathing within 11 and 29
 • Capillary refill less than 2 seconds or radial pulses
present
 • Can follow instructions to move unaffected limb
PRIORITY 2
Urgent

11. Example
Patient states he can’t
move or feel his legs
Respirations are 26
Pulse is 110 (Radial)
He is awake and
oriented

12. EXPECTANT/DEAD
 Still require resources
 Focus of care is comfort
 Psychologically most challenging
for healthcare providers

13. Examples
 Patient gurgles but can’t
 maintain an open airway
 and Is not breathing
 Weak Carotid Pulse
 She is unresponsive