LESSON 1
TRIAGE AND EVACUATION FLOW
Section I. TRIAGE PROCEDURES
1-1.
INTEGRATED BATTLEFIELD
Modern weapons are far more deadly and accurate than those used in past
conflicts. The AirLand Battle doctrine, which is the Army's basic operational concept,
involves preparing for an integrated battlefield in which conventional air and land
weapons, nuclear weapons, biological weapons, chemical weapons, and directed
energy (laser) weapons may be used. Military commanders will rely upon medical
resources to treat, evacuate, and (when possible) return soldiers to duty. In the initial
phases of battle, the soldiers who are evacuated, treated, and returned to duty may
provide the tactical commander with his only source of trained combat replacements.
1-2.
TRIAGE
Triage means sorting. Triage is used to determine the sequence in which
casualties are to be treated in order to maximize the number of survivors and to return
to duty those soldiers with minor wounds. Triage is also used to determine the
sequence in which casualties are to be evacuated. Triage is a continuous process that
is performed at each medical treatment facility (MTF) through which the casualties pass.
The goal of successful triage is to do the most good for the most people. Triage is
usually performed by the most senior medical person available.
1-3.
TRIAGE FOR TREATMENT (NONCHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT)
When a medic (or any other person) has more than one casualty, he must decide
which casualty to treat first. Some injuries require immediate treatment if the casualty is
to live while others can go for a fairly long time without treatment before the casualty's
condition deteriorates significantly. When chemical agents are not being used,
casualties are triaged as being immediate, delayed, minimal, or expectant and are
treated in that order. Triage assures that treatment is directed first toward casualties
who have the best chance to survive based upon available medical personnel and
supplies. Triage determines the order of treatment, not whether or not treatment is
given.
a. Immediate. A casualty in the immediate category requires immediate care if
he is to survive. Once a casualty in the immediate category has been treated and the
life-threatening or limb-threatening condition controlled (airway obstruction expelled,
tourniquet applied, and so forth), the treatment of the casualty's other non-immediate
injuries are delayed until the life/limb-threatening conditions of other casualties have
been treated. Procedures used are short duration and use only essential medical
resources. Examples of casualties in this category include casualties with:
MD0001
1-2