Patient Triage in Disasters and Mass Casualty Incidents

Abstract

Disasters (more than 50 people affected) and mass casualty incidents (more than 10 people affected) which are the result of natural or civilisation disasters, traffic accidents or terrorist attacks are characterised by a large number of injured persons. In these critical situations, triage -prioritisation of patients based on the severity and type of the injury must be performed. Patients are sorted into those who need immediate medical intervention and those whose care can wait. Triage is a generally accepted tool assisting the health-care professionals in treating large numbers of injured people following mass casualty incidents. It is a stressful situation requiring not only professional expertise, but also experience and the ability to stay on top of things. Fortunately, such situations do not occur very often in our country.This paper aims to present experience gained during humanitarian missions abroad (Iraq, Kurdistan, Nepal), internships in hospitals in Israel and in Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.