TRIAGE

Question 1

why do we triage?

Answer 1

The purpose is to avoid harm to patients by sorting them as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

It is a framework that prioritises individuals with the most urgent needs and priorities which departments they need to go to e.g. resus, acute, paediatric

Question 2

what are the triage categories?

Answer 2

1
2
3
4
5

Question 3

what might constitute a category 1 triage and what is their wait time?

Answer 3

• obstructed airway
• resp distress
• haemodynamic compromise
• GCS <8

Immediate/no wait

Question 4

what might constitute a category 2 triage and what is their wait time?

Answer 4

• patent airway with moderate respiratory distress
• moderate haemodynamic compromise
• GCS 9 - 12

10min wait

Question 5

what might constitute a category 3 triage and what is their wait time?

Answer 5

• respiratory distress and haemodynamic compromise are mild
• GCS >13
• moderate pain

30 min wait

Question 6

what might constitute a category 4 triage and what is their wait time?

Answer 6

• patent airway + no respiratory distress
• no haemodynamic compromise
• normal GCS
• mild pain

60mins wait

Question 7

what might constitute a category 5 triage and what is their wait time?

Answer 7

• airway patent with no respiratory distress
• no haemodynamic compromise
• no pain
• no neurovascular compromise

120min wait

Question 8

what are some different pain scales we may use and who would we use them for?

Answer 8

Abbey pain scale
- measurement of pain in people who cannot verbalise

FLACC behavioural pain scale
- children aged 1-4 asleep or awake