Tactical and Rescue First Aid Principles Flashcards
What is a Multiple-Casualty Incident?
A Multiple-Casualty Incident (MCI) is an incident which generates more injured people than available resources can manage using routine procedures. As the term implies, an MCI refers to a situation involving two or more people.
What are some examples of a Multiple-Casualty Incident?
o Transportation accidents
o Flood
o Fire
o Explosion
o Structure collapse
o Train derailment
o Airliner crash
o Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents
o Earthquake
o Tornado
o Hurricane
To identify which injured people require urgent care in an MCI, what process do you use?
To identify which injured people require urgent care in an MCI, you use a process known as triage.
During an MCI, you or another trainer responder may be named a triage officer by the incident commander. If you are the only person on the scene, the role falls on you until you receive help.
The triage officer determines the requirements for additional resources (to perform triage), performs triage of all injured people and assigns personnel and equipment to the highest priority injured people in the triage area.
Why is Primary triage used?
Primary triage is used on the scene to rapidly categorize the condition of injured people. When performing your first assessment, note the approximate number and location of injured people and what the transportation needs are going to be, such as stretchers, litters or special extrication equipment.
According to Simple Triage and Rapid Transport (START) principles, it should take no longer than 30 seconds per person to do your assessment and tagging.
What colors are commonly used for the triage tagging system?
There are a variety of triage tags you may use or encounter in a triage area. Because large disasters can bring rescuers in from a wide area, internationally understood methods of communication are essential.
Thus, the colors green, red, yellow and black are commonly used for the triage tagging system.
The START system is one of several triage schemes and is a simple way to quickly assess and prioritize injured or ill people.
It requires you to check what three items?
It requires you to check only three items: breathing, circulation and level of consciousness (LOC).
As you check these items (breathing, circulation and level of consciousness), classify injured or ill people into one of four levels that reflect the severity of their injury or illness and the need for care. What are the levels?
o Ambulatory/Walking Wounded
o Delayed
o Immediate
o Deceased/Non-salvageable
o Some advanced triage systems also include a fifth category, “hold,” to indicate people with minor injuries who do not require a doctor’s care
What color is the Ambulatory/Walking Wounded Level and what are some key reminders?
AMBULATORY/WALKING WOUNDED
o The first step is to sort those who can walk on their own, the ambulatory or walking wounded (Green).
o To do this, use a public address (PA) method if possible. Get their attention and direct these people to move on their own to a designated area.
o This allows you to find out quickly who is not in grave danger and clears the emergency area of those who do not need to be there.
o Ambulatory people are tagged as Green.
What color is the Immediate Level and what are some key reminders?
IMMEDIATE
o The first of the other categories is immediate care (Red). This categorization means that the person needs immediate care and transport to a medical facility.
o Injured people are considered immediate if they are unconscious or cannot follow simple commands, require active airway management, have a respiratory rate of greater than 30, have a delayed (more than 2 seconds) capillary refill or absent radial pulse or require bleeding control for severe hemorrhage from major blood vessels.
o Immediate people are tagged Red.
What color is the Delayed Level and what are some key reminders?
DELAYED
o The second category is delayed care (Yellow), meaning people who may be suffering severe injuries but a delay in their treatment will not reduce their chance of survival.
o Those tagged delayed are non-ambulatory and are breathing, have a pulse and their LOC is within normal limits.
o While they do not have life-threatening injuries, they may have back injuries with or without spinal cord damage, major or multiple bone or joint injuries or burns without airway problems. However, the following types of burns need immediate, advanced care: ▪ flame burns that occurred in a confined space; ▪ burns covering more than one body part; ▪ burns to the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals; ▪ any partial-thickness or full-thickness burns to a child or an older adult; ▪ or burns resulting from chemicals, explosions or electricity.
o Delayed people are tagged Yellow.
What color is the Deceased Level and what are some key reminders?
DECEASED
o The third category, deceased/non-salvageable/expectant (Black), is assigned to those individuals who are obviously dead or who have mortal injuries.
o People who are not breathing and who fail to breathe after attempts to open and clear the airway (even if they have a pulse) are classified as deceased/non-salvageable/expectant.
o This classification also applies to obvious mortal injuries such as decapitation.
o Deceased people are tagged Black.
What color is the Hold Level and what are some key reminders?
HOLD
o Some advanced triage systems also include a hold category, to indicate injured people with minor injuries who do not require a doctor’s care, such as minor painful, swollen, deformed extremities or minor soft tissue injuries.
o These people may be tagged White and dismissed, with a recommendation to obtain basic first aid care at home or elsewhere.
What does ARPM stand for?
ARPM stands for:
o Ability to get up and walk (ambulatory)
o Respiratory status
o Perfusion status
o Mental status
How do you check the perfusion status?
This is done by checking capillary refill and radial pulse, with the pulse being the more reliable measure, as capillary refill is dependent on multiple factors.
What does SALT stand for?
Sort-Assess-Lifesaving Interventions-Treatment and/or Transport (SALT) Mass Casualty Triage.
