E Brooke Lerner, Richard B Schwartz, Phillip L Coule, Eric S Weinstein, David C Cone, Richard C Hunt, Scott M Sasser, J Marc Liu, Nikiah G Nudell, Ian S Wedmore, Jeffrey Hammond, Eileen M Bulger, Jeffrey P Salomone, Teri L Sanddal, David Markenson, Robert E O'Connor
Mass casualty triage is a critical skill. Although many systems exist to guide providers in making triage decisions, there is little scientific evidence available to demonstrate that any of the available systems have been validated. Furthermore, in the United States there is little consistency from one jurisdiction to the next in the application of mass casualty triage methodology. There are no nationally agreed upon categories or color designations. This review reports on a consensus committee process used to evaluate and compare commonly used triage systems, and to develop a proposed national mass casualty triage guideline...
September 2008: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness