Triage of casualties

Casualty Triage is the categorization of casualties for the priority of treatment and evacuation. Triage is a continuing process and the individual assigned should be the most senior medical person present.

1. It does not matter if the casualties are friendly, civiliian or enemy, all are dealt with in the same manner
2. Return personnel to duty as soon as possible
3. In case of many casualties in the same category (e.g. immediate) prioritise medics and leaders.
4. When communicating or talking about casualties, refer to them only as their triage category, especially when reporting them or requesting assistance
5. It's important to communcate any change in casualty category also.

"We have 3 IMMEDIATE casulties"
"Bravo has one DELAYED one MINIMAL"

Triage Categories

As a general rule, anyone whom is unconcious and bleeding should be categorised as IMMEDIATE and then proceed to re-categorise as below as things change.

MINIMAL (GREEN TAG) 

• The patient is walking
• These individuals have injuries that will still need treatment, however, are unlikely to deteriorate.
• This includes those with relatively minor injuries who can effectively care for themselves or can be helped by untrained personnel. 

DELAYED (YELLOW TAG) 

• Has lost SOME or A LOT of blood AND is not bleeding
• Note: Tourniqueted limbs do not count as bleeding
• The patient is still unresponsive or unconcious
• They are not expected to significantly deteriorate and therefore can safely wait until the immediate category of patients has been stabilized.

IMMEDIATE (RED TAG)

• Has lost a LARGE or FATAL amount of blood and/or is bleeding
• If immediate medical attention is not provided, the patient will die.

DECEASED (BLACK TAG)

• The patient has died or is expected to die and no positive action could or can be taken.