START Triage

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.

The primary goal of this question is to separate patients that can walk (“walking wounded”) from those who cannot. Patients that can walk are likely not at risk of immediate death. Do not force any patients to walk. Have ambulatory patients walk to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients.

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.

The primary goal of this question is to separate patients that can walk (“walking wounded”) from those who cannot. Patients that can walk are likely not at risk of immediate death. Do not force any patients to walk. Have ambulatory patients walk to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients.

Position the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift method or jaw-thrust maneuver. With positioning, you are opening the airway by preventing the tongue from obstructing the airway. After positioning, assess whether the patient has spontaneous respirations.

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.

The primary goal of this question is to separate patients that can walk (“walking wounded”) from those who cannot. Patients that can walk are likely not at risk of immediate death. Do not force any patients to walk. Have ambulatory patients walk to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients.

A rapid respiratory rate (>30 per minute) may be an indicator of shock or respiratory compromise. Left untreated, these patients can quickly deteriorate.

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.

The primary goal of this question is to separate patients that can walk (“walking wounded”) from those who cannot. Patients that can walk are likely not at risk of immediate death. Do not force any patients to walk. Have ambulatory patients walk to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients.

Capillary refill time is determined by applying pressure to a finger (often the nail bed) and assessing the length of time it takes for the skin to return to normal color. In adults, this should be approximately 2 seconds or less. An alternative is assessing the presence of a radial pulse. A long capillary refill time or absent radial pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.

A rapid respiratory rate (>30 per minute) may be an indicator of shock or respiratory compromise. Left untreated, these patients can quickly deteriorate.

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.

The primary goal of this question is to separate patients that can walk (“walking wounded”) from those who cannot. Patients that can walk are likely not at risk of immediate death. Do not force any patients to walk. Have ambulatory patients walk to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients.

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.

Capillary refill time is determined by applying pressure to a finger (often the nail bed) and assessing the length of time it takes for the skin to return to normal color. In adults, this should be approximately 2 seconds or less. An alternative is assessing the presence of a radial pulse. A long capillary refill time or absent radial pulse may be an indicator of poor perfusion, often caused by blood loss.

A rapid respiratory rate (>30 per minute) may be an indicator of shock or respiratory compromise. Left untreated, these patients can quickly deteriorate.

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.

The primary goal of this question is to separate patients that can walk (“walking wounded”) from those who cannot. Patients that can walk are likely not at risk of immediate death. Do not force any patients to walk. Have ambulatory patients walk to a designated area, clearing space for responders to access more critical patients.

START Triage (Adults)

Position Airway

START Triage (Adults)

Position Airway

Able to walk?

Spontaneous Breathing?

Able to Walk?

Spontaneous Breathing after Positiong

Spontaneous Breathing?

Able to Walk?

Respiratory Rate?

Spontaneous Breathing?

Able to Walk?

Perfusion?

Respiratory Rate?

Spontaneous Breathing?

Able to Walk?

Mental Status?

Perfusion?

Respiratory Rate?

Spontaneous Breathing?

Able to Walk?