Triage
- Thread starter Prudy
- Start date
I don't like triage cards at all.
Most do not allow for retriage.
Many times they do not convey enough information or the proper information.
They are only good for events where transport is an option.
Most people I have worked with in the past completely forget about them in the heat of the moment.
Most do not allow for retriage.
Many times they do not convey enough information or the proper information.
They are only good for events where transport is an option.
Most people I have worked with in the past completely forget about them in the heat of the moment.
EpiEMS
Forum Deputy Chief
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Seems like the US military (I thought it was a NATO standard too, for some reason) likes the METTAG system.
Here's what NJ requires all ambulances to carry: http://www.state.nj.us/health/ems/documents/njdisastertag.pdf
Our triage tags allow for retriaging to a higher priority as they have tabs you tear off. So if someone was triaged yellow, and they deteriorated, you can tear off the yellow tag and the tag would show red.
As for if they improved and became a lower priority or were incorrectly triaged to begin with, I guess you could always just put a new tag on them and if need be communicate that to whoever is handling transportation.
I have found that some coutries using tags (cards) and some wrist tapes. As the METTAG system I see the problem in changing priority to better, but as hogwiley wrote it can be change by new tag. But still it can be a chaos, nobody knows how people react (during solving this situation - re-changing tags) under pressure and stress. They can badly overwrite some information or forger something...
Have you ever done this before?
Those tags are numbered. It causes a terrible mess when you have more numbered tags than patients.
The person retriaging may not have any communication nor way of relaying the fact they added another tag.
There are never enough resources to go around changing patient numbers. Especially when there are a bunch of screaming relatives all asking about their loved ones by name when everyone is being identified by numbers.
Lack of information also causes considerable problems for those treating the patients, both prior to transport and after.
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We use the START Triage tags. Not as easy as the tear offs but they allow for retriage whether it be up or down without having to retag patients which causes giant headaches as Vene pointed out.
My biggest complaint is trying to put the damn thing back in its little clear envelope with slipperiness on your hands.
Our tags also have places for demographics as well as vitals and procedures with time slots.
Black tags are also separate so once someone is black tagged you'd have to use a new card to change your mind...
Our triage kits come with 20 triage tags, 10 black/expectant tags, arm bands designating triage, transport and IC officers as well as green, yellow and red tape to designate triage/treatment zones. They hang in a fabric bag behind the passenger seat in the cab.
My biggest complaint is trying to put the damn thing back in its little clear envelope with slipperiness on your hands.
Our tags also have places for demographics as well as vitals and procedures with time slots.
Black tags are also separate so once someone is black tagged you'd have to use a new card to change your mind...
Our triage kits come with 20 triage tags, 10 black/expectant tags, arm bands designating triage, transport and IC officers as well as green, yellow and red tape to designate triage/treatment zones. They hang in a fabric bag behind the passenger seat in the cab.
Melclin
Forum Deputy Chief
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Triage Sieve and Sort.
Makes good sense. Easy to triage initially. The sort process covers the re-triage.
The tags almost never get used. Usually there are too few pts to require it them or obvious delineations, eg 5 walking wounded and one GCS 6 head inured pt.
Makes good sense. Easy to triage initially. The sort process covers the re-triage.
The tags almost never get used. Usually there are too few pts to require it them or obvious delineations, eg 5 walking wounded and one GCS 6 head inured pt.