Triage Kits Can Help Save Lives In A Disaster

By Eric Holm


Triage kits are similar to traditional first aid kits but they are designed to be used in a major disaster that involves multiple victims. The term triage defines the process of assessing injuries to determine which are in need of the fastest attention. This system is used anytime help is needed in a remote area on rough terrain or when there are more people in need of assistance than there are rescue personnel. The goal is to treat as many patients as quickly as possible.

This particular type of disaster kit will contain many of the familiar emergency supplies that will be needed to treat most minor injuries plus some specialized equipment that is useful when sorting through multiple patients. Victims are sorted into groups signifying the severity of injuries. Those people with minor injuries can wait awhile for treatment. People tagged as delayed need treatment at a medical facility but transport can be delayed. Immediate cases need transportation to the hospital as soon as possible. Victims who are deceased need to be packed in body bags and transported to the morgue. Disaster supplies in the kit will include safety vests to designate safety workers and colored tape to identify patient status. A manual will be included with these medical first aid kits for guidance during an emergency operation.

You will also want to obtain the tools necessary, and a few CPR books, for quick and efficient CPR as well as a portable stretcher or two or three for easy and quick evacuation of the most seriously injured patients.

When a terrible accident or natural disaster occurs, it always pays to be well prepared. Having the proper first aid supplies, like solar blankets and other emergency equipment, can mean the difference between life and death if your community is faced with an emergency.

In most cases of natural disaster situations such as earthquakes, non medical personal will find themselves involved in a type of triage known as S.T.A.R.T. which stands for simple triage and rapid treatment. This is simply designed to identify the injuries quickly and get the most seriously injured to hospitals for full care as soon as possible. That's why it is important for professional first responders and all volunteers to know the ins and outs of triage kits and their uses.




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