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A retrospective study of approximately 1 million trauma patients indicated that using physiologic (Step One) and anatomic (Step Two) criteria alone for triage of patients resulted in a high degree of under triage, implying that using special considerations for determining trauma center need helped reduce the problem of under triage (46). Jan 01, 2020 The final sample consisted of 11 triage trained ED RNs (FG #1 four participants, FG #2 three participants, and FG #3 four participants). All participants were female, with a mean age of 39 years; with on average 14 years of experience as an emergency RN, and 7 years of experience in triaging. Likewise, each point of worsened MEWS was associated with increased odds of ICU admission (Triage-to-Last: OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.92-2.33 and Triage-to-Max: OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.45-1.60, respectively). Among patients with suspected infection, similar associations are found.

Proof That 1 Equals 0

Triage of Chemical Casualties

General principles of triage for chemical exposures

Check triage tag/card for any previous treatment or triage.
Survey for evidence of associated traumatic/blast injuries.
Observe for sweating, labored breathing, coughing/vomiting, secretions.
Severe casualty triaged as immediate if assisted breathing is required.
Blast injuries or other trauma, where there is question whether there is chemical exposure, victims must be tagged as immediate in most cases. Blast victim's evidence delayed effects such as ARDS, etc.
Mild/moderate casualty: self/buddy aid, triaged as delayed or minimal and release is based on strict follow up and instructions.
If there are chemical exposure situations which may cause delayed but serious signs and symptoms, then over-triage is considered appropriate to the proper facilities that can observe and manage any delayed onset symptoms.
Expectant categories in multi-casualty events are those victims who have experienced a cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, or continued seizures immediately. Resources should not be expended on these casualties if there are large numbers of casualties requiring care and transport with minimal or scant resources available.
In a given category prioritize a child, pregnant woman over an non-pregnant adult

Chemical agent-specific triage

See Triage Sections of Prehospital and Hospital Management:

Key Activities for Triage ¹

The dose determines the poison during triage. Determining if a patient had direct contact (e.g., splash or skin contact) and the relative distance from areas with the highest concentrations (e.g., near the source of a leak or spill) can guide triage decisions, just like principles of radiation dose delivery (i.e, time, shielding, distance) apply to many mass chemical events.
Obtaining history about the time a patient was in a toxic environment and the distance from the areas of greatest concentration can help to stratify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. This approach is similar to using an account of the mechanism of injury to anticipate injuries even before the clinician touches the trauma patient.
Understanding the different mechanisms of trauma (e.g., speed of the vehicle, presence of fatalities in the same accident, or height of a fall) and the predictable pattern of injuries that may result will influence the patient's evaluation and affect care. This approach is not an absolute solution for poisonings but is potentially valuable for mass chemical exposures whereby triaging patients is critical to quickly find those most at risk for serious illness.
In addition to triage, the same principles can guide treatment strategies for hazardous chemical exposures.
The most basic treatment objective is to limit exposure time and decrease concentration as rapidly as possible. Moving rapidly away from a vapor cloud in an accidental release is common sense and illustrates the point of decreasing concentration and duration of exposure. Similarly, deluging with water after splashing a concentrated sulfuric acid on the skin will decrease the chemical's concentration and the duration of exposure.

START/JumpSTART Algorithm (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) for Mass Casualty Events

START was developed by the Newport Beach Fire and Marine Department and Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California in 1983.

Initially it used the ability to obey commands, respiratory rate, and capillary refill to assign triage category.

Modifications to START in 1996 by Benson et. al. substituted radial pulse for capillary refill, with a report of improved accuracy, especially in cold temperature.

JumpSTART, a pediatric version of START, was developed at the Miami, Florida Children's Hospital in 1995 by Dr. Lou Romig.

A modification was published in 2001. Formal scientific review of the efficacy of JumpStart has been limited.

JumpSTART is probably the most commonly used pediatric mass casualty triage algorithm in the US.

SALT Mass Casualty Triage Algorithm

SALT stands for 'Sort - Assess - Life Saving Interventions - Treatment and/or Transport'

It was developed as a national all-hazards mass casualty initial triage standard for all patients.

Agencies can easily incorporate SALT into their current Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) triage protocol through simple modification.

References

Kirk MA, Deaton ML. Bringing order out of chaos: effective strategies for medical response to mass chemical exposure. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2007 May;25(2):527-48. [PubMed Citation]
Triage of Chemical Casualties, Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare, Chapter 15 (PDF - 285 KB) (U.S. Army, 2008)
Subbarao I, Johnson C, Bond WF, Schwid HA, Wasser TE, Deye GA, Burkhart KK. Symptom-based, algorithmic approach for handling the initial encounter with victims of a potential terrorist attack. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2005 Sep-Oct;20(5):301-8. [PubMed Citation]
Cone DC, Koenig KL. Mass casualty triage in the chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear environment. Eur J Emerg Med. 2005 Dec;12(6):287-302. [PubMed Citation]
Cone DC, MacMillan DS, Parwani V, Van Gelder C. Pilot test of a proposed chemical/biological/radiation/ nuclear-capable mass casualty triage system. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2008 Apr-Jun;12(2):236-40. [PubMed Citation]