b. Chemical Immediate. Casualties in the chemical immediate category have no
conventional injury, but show signs and/or symptoms of severe chemical agent poisoning
(vomiting, labored breathing, coughing, sweating through protective clothing, not being
able to follow simple commands like holding up right arm, and so forth).
c. Delayed. Casualties in the delayed category have serious conventional
injuries, which are not life threatening (paragraph 1-3b). The casualties may have signs
and/or symptoms of mild chemical agent poisoning, but not severe chemical agent
poisoning.
d. Minimal. Casualties in the minimal category have minor conventional injuries
(paragraph 1-3c) and do not have signs or symptoms of chemical agent poisoning.
e. Expectant. Casualties in the expectant category have life-threatening
conventional injuries that are beyond the capability of the medic to treat (paragraph
1-3d), have life-threatening conventional injuries with signs and/or symptoms of severe
chemical agent poisoning, or have no respiration (not breathing) because of chemical
agent poisoning.
1-5.
TRIAGE FOR EVACUATION
Hopefully, the number of casualties requiring evacuation will not exceed
evacuation capabilities. However, you may need to decide which casualties are to be
moved first if the number of litter teams is limited or if the vehicle or vehicles available
cannot transport all of the casualties at the same time. Casualties to be evacuated are
classified as urgent, urgent surgical, priority, routine, or convenience. Casualties
classified as urgent or urgent surgical are evacuated first. Casualties classified as
priority are evacuated next. Casualties classified as routine are evacuated last. A
fourth category, convenience, can also be used if appropriate. General rules for triaging
casualties for evacuation are given below. Each casualty must be triaged for
evacuation based upon his present condition. For example, a casualty who had an
airway obstruction and was originally classified as immediate may only require medical
examination at the MTF to ensure that his throat was not injured.
a. Urgent. Urgent category casualties usually consist of immediate and chemical
immediate casualties. These casualties need to be evacuated (by air ambulance, if
possible) as soon as possible (within 2 hours) in order to save life, limb, or eyesight.
These casualties have treatable injuries that cannot be controlled by the medic. This
includes:
(1) Casualties whose condition(s) cannot be controlled and have the
greatest opportunity for survival.
(2)
Cardio-respiratory distress.
MD0001
1-5