SALT Triage
Triage Tag
MINOR
DELAYED
IMMEDIATE
EXPECTANT
| Triage Tag | Explanation |
|---|---|
Expectant |
Victim is deceased or is not expected to survive due to the severity of their injuries. |
Immediate |
Victim has severe injuries requiring immediate treatment. |
Delayed |
Victim has potentially severe injuries, but treatment can be delayed up to a few hours. |
Minor |
Victim has minor injuries not requiring immediate treatment. |
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
The likelihood of survival is largely based on the resources available at the scene and may change over time.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
The likelihood of survival is largely based on the resources available at the scene and may change over time.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
Respiratory distress following a traumatic injury can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
The likelihood of survival is largely based on the resources available at the scene and may change over time.
Respiratory distress following a traumatic injury can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
Control hemorrhage with direct pressure or tourniquet. Mass casualty incidents do not often have the resources to resuscitate a hemodynamically unstable patient.
Respiratory distress following a traumatic injury can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
The likelihood of survival is largely based on the resources available at the scene and may change over time.
Control hemorrhage with direct pressure or tourniquet. Mass casualty incidents do not often have the resources to resuscitate a hemodynamically unstable patient.
Respiratory distress following a traumatic injury can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
Patients with minor injuries can be treated after those with major injuries. Minor injuries are non-life-threatening injuries.
Control hemorrhage with direct pressure or tourniquet. Mass casualty incidents do not often have the resources to resuscitate a hemodynamically unstable patient.
Respiratory distress following a traumatic injury can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
Assess for the presence of a peripheral pulse. An absent peripheral pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.
Assess mental status by determining whether the patient can follow simple commands. A patient that cannot follow simple commands may have an altered mental status as a result of a head injury or other condition.
This question and all of the following questions are for individual patient assessment. This question is primarily used to separate those who are already deceased from those who are not. During a mass-casualty incident, there are typically insufficient resources to resuscitate a critical patient.
First, sort patients by requesting any patients that are able to walk to move to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients. Second, ask the remaining patients to wave or make some purposeful movement. Any patients that did not make a purposeful movement should be assessed first (highest likelihood of life-threatening injury), followed by those who were able to make a purposeful movement but unable to walk, and the patients who were able to walk last.
Perform any of the following interventions if indicated and within scope of practice: Control major hemorrhage, open airway (rescue breaths if pediatric), chest decompression, auto-injector antidotes.
See a visual diagram of the SALT Triage algorithm.
Go to Flowchart
References
- SALT mass casualty triage: concept endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, American Trauma Society, National Association of EMS Physicians, National Disaster Life Support Education Consortium, and State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association. (2008). Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2(4), 245–246. https://doi.org/10.1097/DMP.0b013e31818d191e
- US Department of Health & Human Services. (2022, November 16). SALT Mass Casualty Triage Algorithm. Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management. Retrieved from https://chemm.hhs.gov/salttriage.htm