S.T.A.R.T. triage is a fast, compact, simple, and very specific system for identifying and classifying (or "tagging" because a color-coded tag is often used) injured people into four groups or levels of priority. As each one is triaged (which takes from 10 to 30 seconds) they are given specific, brief, essential treatments as needed, and tagged with their severity level for subsequent care. The Triager moves from person to person until all are looked at quickly and given the critical first-action treatments. More care will be given later, after rapid triage is done and professional help has been requested.

Disaster triage could be described as "choosing the best of the worst" because we are giving first priority to those who will actually benefit from it most - those who have a good chance to survive and recover IF they get help soon.

We don't give first priority to the ones with minor injuries, because waiting will not change their outcome. We do not give it to the moderate injuries, because waiting ususally will not change their outcome. We do not give it to the deceased, because waiting will not change their outcome. We give first priority to those where it makes the critical difference, and S.T.A.R.T. triage identifies those for us. We do not have to decide ourselves.

In the chaos and confusion of a disaster, a simple formula like this WORKS, and has been proven in actual practice to save about 40% more lives, since its inception more than 25 years ago.

The S.T.A.R.T. Triage you learn and use in Disaster First Aid is the same system used by Medical Rescue and Public Safety Agencies in the U.S. and many countries worldwide, adapted for citizens and non-professionals.

Even though you don't have the equipment and training that professional rescuers have, YOU DO HAVE everything that's needed to perform S.T.A.R.T. Triage and save lives in those first critical hours and minutes when it's needed most.

S.T.A.R.T. Triage in Disaster First Aid is designed and intended for large, multi-casualty events where it's clear that there will not be enough ambulances and paramedics for all the people injured, and many must wait. Therefore help must be rationed and applied where it will be the most effective and make the most difference.

(Please note that S.T.A.R.T. and Disaster First Aid should NOT be used as substitute for professional medical care at any time when that is available.)

Any form of triage may seem stressful for civilians and volunteers, who are not experienced. It's important to remind them that they are not making any decisions about the fate or outcome of any injured person, they are simply applying the time-tested and proven formula which makes the decisions for them, with the knowledge that this gives everyone the best chance for survival and recovery.

This fact gives direction, courage, and moral support not only to the citizen rescuers, but also to the hundreds of thousands of Police, Firefighters, Ambulance and Rescue crews throughout the world who use this formula every day in all multi-casualty emergencies.

Read the "Life Lines" article:
"Disaster Triage- What It Is, Why It Is, How It Is"
 

Copyright 1996-2010 V. Chames / Darkhorse Press United States