Firefighter Pre‐Hospital Care Program
Module 25
Triage
Firefighter Pre‐Hospital Care Program
Module 25
At the end of the lesson and upon completion of the FETN post test
quiz, the participant will demonstrate an understanding of how to:
• triage a multi-patient scene and/or mass casualty incident
according to commonly accepted guidelines.
What are M.C.I’s?
Any medical or trauma incident
involving multiple patients and
agencies
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Car Accidents
Structure Fires
Natural Disasters
Terrorism
Workplace Incidents
Responding to a M.C.I’s?
•
Consider your call
information
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Consider your Mechanism
of Injury
•
Follow directions from the
Incident Commander
Your Arrival at the M.C.I’s?
• Most knowledgeable First Responder
becomes triage officer
• Perform primary assessment on all
patient’s first
• Advise Incident Commander of your
findings and follow their direction
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M. C
Basic Triage
• A french word meaning “to sort”
• Quick assessment of patients
involved in a MCI
• Used as a priority for receiving
treatment based on severity of
their illness or injuries
Basic Triage
The GOAL of triage is to provide the best
care for the greatest number of people.
Triage Flowchart
Triage Tags
Deceased
• Vital Signs Absent
• Non-Patent Airway
• Trapped Patient who is apneic and bradycardiac below 30
Highest Priority
• Airway and breathing difficulties
• Uncontrolled or severe bleeding
• Decreased mental status
Second Priority
• Burns without airway problems
• Back injuries
• Major or multiple painful, swollen, deformed extremities
Lowest Priority
• Minor soft tissue injuries
• Minor painful, deformed, swollen extremities
Triage Tags
• While triaging a patient, always
remember, the patient can only
get worse.
Triage Tags
• While triaging a patient,
always remember, the
patient can only get worse.
• Not better
Being the Triage Officer
• Direct all “ walking wounded”
to a safe location, then
quickly assess the remaining
casualties
Being the Triage Officer
1. Is the patient’s airway open ?
• If no, open it and move on
2. If the patient is unresponsive, check for breathing and pulse ?
• If there is no breathing or pulse, move on
3. Is the patient bleeding severely ?
• If yes, apply pressure and move on.
“ The only initial treatment you apply is airway and bleeding management”
Rapid Patient Assessment
• Establish Responsiveness
Rapid Patient Assessment
• Establish Responsiveness
• Open Airway
Rapid Patient Assessment
• Establish Responsiveness
• Open Airway
• Check for Breathing
• Assess Circulation
Rapid Patient Assessment
• Establish Responsiveness
• Open Airway
• Check for Breathing
• Assess Circulation
• Control Major Bleeding
Rapid Patient Assessment
• Establish Responsiveness
• Open Airway
• Check for Breathing
• Assess Circulation
• Control Major Bleeding
• Position Patient
Rapid Patient Assessment
• Establish Responsiveness
• Open Airway
• Check for Breathing
• Assess Circulation
• Control Major Bleeding
• Position Patient
• Assign a Triage Code
Secondary Triage and Treatment
•
Begins when adequate
personnel are on scene
& initial triage is complete.
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Patients are gathered in
a triage sector & treatment
begins.
Your Role at a M.C.I.
• Designate a triage area
• Direct walking wounded to
assemble in a safe area
• Conduct a systematic,
A-B-C, triage of all casualties
Your Role at a M.C.I. cont…
• Update the Incident
Commander, as often as
possible
• Update the first arriving
paramedic of your findings
• Once information has been
transferred, report to your
captain
E.M.S’s Role at a M.C.I.
• Assume triage officer role
• Assign personnel to patient care
roles
• Co-ordinate the transport of
casualties
( i.e. which Red goes first )
• Assist Ambulance Site CoOrdinator and Traffic Control
Officer
Call Related Stress
• Trauma can create
overwhelming feelings
• Scenes such as amputations,
shootings, terrorism and
children can provoke strong
emotions
Managing Personal Stress
Physical Signs:
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Increased Pulse
G.I. Discomfort
Anxiety
Headaches
Fatigue
Managing Personal Stress
Emotional Signs:
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Feeling on edge
Depression
Irritability
Anger
Managing Personal Stress
Behavioural Signs:
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Avoidance
Withdrawal
Aggression
Procrastination
Drug Abuse
Overeating
Managing Personal Stress
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Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing ( CISD ) helps the
first responder deal with
stressful incidents
For All Questions Pertaining to this Module,
Contact Your E.M.S. Command Coordinator.
North – ( 416 ) 338‐9901
South – ( 416 ) 849‐2458
East – ( 416 ) 338‐9428
West – ( 416 ) 338‐9429