Triage 002

Background: You are a First Responder on duty one night when there is an explosion near a factory! A large propane tank just exploded near an employee break area with approximately 25-30 employees in the vicinity! You estimate between 15 and 20 people were injured. The uninjured employees have evacuated and declared the area safe. You radioed for assistance, and additional ambulances and five more paramedics/EMTs will arrive in about 5 to 10 minutes. You need to quickly triage patients using the Sort-Assess-Life-Saving-Interventions-Treatment (SALT) protocol. You have an Advanced First Aid Kit that includes Triage Tags.

There is a Level II Trauma Center approximately 10 minutes away by ground, and a Level I Trauma Center about 60 minutes away by ground. You do not have air medical evacuation options due to weather conditions. The ambulance crews in your region have ventilators but do not carry blood products.

What has already been done: You yelled to the patients, asking them to move and wave, and sorted them into WALKING, WAVING, and NOT MOVING groups. Next, you need to quickly assess the patients to determine what interventions they might need and place the appropriate triage tag. Selecting a disposition in the tablet will end your evaluation of that patient. Then, you will exit that scenario and move on to the next patient. You need to perform this for all patients.

Patient Communication

Patient: Hey, I am here to take care of you.
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Can you tell me your name?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: What happened?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Are you hurting anywhere?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Does your throat hurt or feel tight?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Are you having a hard time breathing?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Does your chest hurt?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Did you pass out (lose consciousness)?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Do you have any numbness or weakness?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Does your head hurt?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Does your neck hurt?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Does your back hurt?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Does your abdomen hurt?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Do you have any allergies?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Do you take any medications?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Do you have any medical problems?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Have you ever had any surgeries?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: When did you last eat or drink something?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: Do you smoke, drink, or use recreational drugs?
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head
Patient: I'm going to take care of you.
Response: The patient is having a hard time talking
Location: Head

Scoring Details

Airway: Jaw thrust maneuver
Head-tilt-chin lift
Move the patient into a sitting position
Roll patient into recovery position
Change triage type to expectant
Change triage type to dead
Patient disposition: Pronounce Dead
Patient disposition: Medical Evacuation

Scenario Details

Scenario Package
SALT Triage EMS Practice Pack
Learner type
  • preshospital
  • militaryMedic
Patient severity at start
Serious
Patient severity overall
Serious
Duration to complete
<5 minutes
Scenario difficulty
Moderate
Environment
POI
Equipment
  • Bandage
  • Combat Application Tourniquet (1)
  • Combat Application Tourniquet (2)
  • Trauma Shears
  • Blanket
  • FoilBlanket
  • Nasopharyngeal airway
  • Chest Seal Package
  • Packing Gauze
  • Gloves
  • Eye Guard
  • Non-Adherent Dressing
  • Decompression needle
  • Radio
  • Marker
  • Triage Tag (Minimal)
Available medications
Injury type
  • Amputated right leg below knee
  • Bruise behind right ear
  • Facial burn
  • Head skull injury
  • Hemorrhage from the ear
Pathologies
  • brain injury, diffuse
  • external hemorrhage, right leg
  • airway obstruction
Scoring summary
  • Airway Assessment
  • Triage
  • Disposition