UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO SCHOOL OF NURSING

TRIAGE and METHODS of TRANSFER

Submitted by: BOTIS, Gemray B. NPC June 18, 2013

TRIAGE: Triage refers to the evaluation and categorization of the sick or wounded when there are insufficient resources for medical care of everyone at once.
In mass casualty situations, triage is used to decide who is most urgently in need of transportation to a hospital for care (generally, those who have a chance of survival but who would die without immediate treatment) and whose injuries are less severe and must wait for medical care.

Triage is also commonly used in crowded emergency rooms and walk-in clinics to determine which patients should be seen and treated immediately. Triage may be used to prioritize the use of space or equipment, such as operating rooms, in a crowded medical facility.

Color Coding:

Red tags - (immediate) are used to label those who cannot survive without immediate treatment but who have a chance of survival. Yellow tags - (observation/ delayed) for those who require observation (and possible later re-triage). Their condition is stable for the moment and, they are not in immediate danger of death. These victims will still need hospital care and would be treated immediately under normal circumstances. Green tags - (wait / minimal/ minor) are reserved for the "walking wounded" who will need medical care at some point, after more critical injuries have been treated. Black tags - (expectant/ morgue) are used for the deceased and for those whose injuries are so extensive that they will not be able to survive given the care that is available.

METHODS OF TRANSFER A. One Man Carry 1. Ankle Pull (Short Distances) 1. Grasp the victim by both ankles or both pant cuffs. Be sure to move him or her using your legs, not your back. Keep your back as straight as possible, to prevent injuring yourself.

2. Drag the victim in as straight a line as possible. Note that this carry does not support the head or neck. This method is the quickest way to move a person over a smooth surface. It should only be used if the rescuer cannot bend over or the victim is in immediate danger.

2. Shoulder Pull (Short Distances) 1. Grasp the victim's clothing underneath his or her shoulders. You will have to bend over in order to pull the victim away. 2. Support the person's head by keeping an arm along each side of it. Pull the victim away, keeping the body as aligned as possible. This method of moving injured people is preferred over the ankle pull because the rescuer is able to support the victim's head. However, it is not suitable for rescuers with back injuries. 3. Blanket Pull (Short to Medium Distance) 1. Lay out a blanket on the floor as close to the victim as possible. 2. Roll or lift the victim carefully onto the blanket. You should keep the head and neck as aligned as possible while transferring the person to the blanket.

The head of the victim should be placed about 2 feet (61 cm) from a corner of the blanket.

3. Gather the corners around the victim's head and pull them away. You should keep your back as straight as possible while moving the person.

4. One Person Lift (For Child or Small Adult Over All Distances) 1. Place one arm around the victim's back and the other underneath his or her knees and lift the person into your arms.

2. Walk to safety. Have the victim place an arm around your shoulders while walking, if possible.

5. Firefighter Carry (Longer Distances) 1. Crouch down and place one of the victim's arms across your shoulder. Wrap your arm around the victim's legs and grasp the other arm of the victim. 2. Lift the person using your legs and carry the person to a safe place. This method of carrying a victim is good for longer distances. However, the rescuer must be very strong to place the victim in this position. This method is also not suitable for a victim with a spinal injury.

6. Pack Strap Carry (Longer Distances) 1. Crouch down in front of the victim and place both of his or her arms over your shoulders.

2. Cross the person's arms and grasp the opposite wrist with both of your hands. You should be holding onto his or her left wrist with your right hand and vice-versa.

3. Pull the injured person's arms close to your chest and squat slightly.

4. Push your hips into the victim while bending forward slightly. Balance the person's weight with your hips while walking. This carrying technique is good for long distances with a larger adult. It is more suitable for victims whose injuries make the fireman's carry unsafe

7. Support carry the casualty must be able to walk or at least hop on one leg, using the bearer as a crutch. This carry can be used to assist him as far as he is able to walk or hop.

8. Neck drag is useful in combat

because the bearer can transport the casualty when he creeps behind a low wall or shrubbery, under a vehicle, or through a gutter. This drag is used only if the casualty does not have a broken/ fractured arm. In this drag the casualty is on his back. If the casualty is unconscious, protect his head from the ground.

9. Arms carry. The arms carry is used when the casualty is unable to walk. This carry (Figure B-3) is useful when carrying a casualty for a short distance and when placing him on a litter.

10. Saddleback carry. Only a conscious casualty can be transported by the saddleback carry because he must be able to hold onto the bearers neck.

11. Pistol-belt drag. The pistol-belt drag (Figure B-7) and other drags are generally used for short distances. In this drag the casualty is on his back. The pistol-belt drag is useful in combat. The bearer and the casualty can remain closer to the ground in this drag than in any other.

12. Pack-strap carry. This carry is used when only a moderate distance will be traveled. In this carry (Figure B-5), the casualty's weight rests high on the bearer's back. To eliminate the possibility of injury to the casualty's arms, the bearer must hold the casualty's arms in a palms-down position.

B. Two-man Carry 1) Two-man support carry can be used in transporting both conscious or unconscious casualties. If the casualty is taller than the bearers it may be necessary for the bearers to lift the casualty's legs and let them rest on their forearms. 2) Two-man arms carry is useful in carrying a casualty for a moderate distance. It is also useful for placing him on a litter. To lessen fatigue, the bearers should carry him high and as close to their chests as possible. In extreme emergencies when there are no times to obtain a board, this manual carry is the safest one for transporting a casualty with a back/neck injury. Use two additional bearers to keep his head and legs in alignment with his body.

3) Two-man fore-and-aft carry is a most useful two-man carry for transporting a casualty for a long distance. The taller of the two bearers should position himself at the casualty's head. By altering this carry so that both bearers face the casualty, it is also useful for placing him on a litter.

4) Two-hand seat carry is used in carrying a casualty for a short distance and in placing him on a litter. 5) Four-hand seat carry. Only a conscious casualty can be transported with the four-hand seat carry (Figure B-14) because he must help support himself by placing his arms around the bearers' shoulders. This carry is especially useful in transporting the casualty with a head or foot injury and is used when the distance to be traveled is moderate. It is also useful for placing a casualty on a litter.