‘Triage’ in its simplest form means SORTING of patients. The purpose of triage is to assess the severity of infirmity along with chances of survival, accord an appropriate category and ensure correct attention quickly thereafter.
When a large number of injured people are brought at the same time to the health establishments, triage becomes necessary.
Experts among the local health personnel make a quick but careful assessment of all cases and categorization is done in the following manner:
A). Those who must be sent urgently to the nearest hospital on account of acute cardio-pulmonary insufficiency, severe hemorrhage, internal bleeding, severe burns, shock, skull injuries, rupture of liver, spleen and other serious conditions.
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But before being sent to a hospital, many victims in life threatening situations, arising as a consequence of disaster situation, may necessitate minor surgical interventions or immediate medical attention on the spot. Deep and profusely bleeding wounds may require exploration of wound and lighting the bleeding vessel. Multiple fractures of long bones may entail careful immobilization.
Head injuries will need specialized management and handling of the victim. Electrocution, drowning, foreign body impaction in the windpipe (trachea) and a hoard of other emergencies may occur and must be handled with extreme care and skill. It is therefore imperative that the local medical personnel must be give detailed training and some experience at the causality department of large hospitals in handling emergencies like hemorrhage, shock, respiratory distress, cardio-vascular failure, skull injuries, multiple fractures, dislocations, burns, electrocution, drowning, accidental hypothermia.
B). Those cases who are very serious but have apparently less or no chance of survival. These cases are given immediate medical attention on the spot.
It is important that the local health-care personnel as well as members of the community have a good knowledge of location and functions of definitive treatment centers. Referring of victim to correct hospitals will ensure proper treatment without wastage of time in cross referrals. The local health care personnel must also be prepared for the possibility of disruption of roads and all other means of communication for upto 72 hours. During this period they must rely solely on their own skill and resources.
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C). Those with minor injuries are treated on the spot (but separately from those in the category B above) by First-Aid personnel and sent home or to the relief camps.