EMS Triage Curriculum 001

Introduction: Triage a patient with catastrophic injuries who is not breathing (BLACK tag) and learn SALT basics.

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.

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

Listen for breathing
Exam: Ask patient
Airway: Jaw thrust maneuver
Change triage type to dead
Patient disposition: Pronounce Dead
Patient disposition: Medical Evacuation

Scenario Details

Scenario Package
SALT Triage EMS Curriculum
Learner type
  • preshospital
Patient severity at start
Critical
Patient severity overall
Critical
Duration to complete
<5 minutes
Scenario difficulty
Standard
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 left arm
  • Amputated left leg at knee
  • Amputated right arm
  • Amputated right leg below knee
  • Head skull injury
Pathologies
  • external hemorrhage, right arm
  • external hemorrhage, right leg
  • external hemorrhage, left leg
  • external hemorrhage, left arm
Scoring summary
  • Assess Airway
  • Triage
  • Disposition