49. “People will die and there is nothing that can be done
about it. Non-public safety personnel will not understand why everyone cannot be
saved. Priorities must be set to save the most lives possible.”
COMMENT: While this concept is understood by those in emergency medicine, it IS
often difficult for others to accept the fact that not everyone will
be treated, or survive a major catastrophe. Additional lives will be lost,
if time is wasted when heroic efforts are attempted to save someone who is
beyond hope.
Although the term “triage” is derived from a French term
meaning: “to sort
into three groups” there are actually four (some times five) “triage”
classifications. Field triage in mass casualty incidents is different from
hospital or emergency department triage. Historically, the category known
as “BLUE” (i.e. - not expected to survive), may only be made by a field
surgeon. If non-medical personnel are unaware of this fact beforehand,
they may become very disturbed at what they see or hear.
Also, EMCOMM personnel need to remember that victim’s names
and/or condition are NEVER transmitted over the air.
For additional information on the subject go to:
www.fl5dmat.com/Policy_Procedures/triage.htm