Course Build Planning and Triage in the Disaster Scenario

Case 1.

The hospital disaster plan is activated while all victims are sent to a triage area set up in a safe location (e.g., hospital parking lot). A physician, accompanied by nurses from the emergency department, initiates triage. Patients with critical illnesses or trauma are transported directly to the emergency department. Those most severely affected are treated in the emergency department and receive immediate evaluation, while those with less severe injuries are given first aid in the parking lot or wait until they can be treated in the emergency department. The hospital disaster plan includes utilizing staff from other hospital departments to assist in the event of a mass casualty incident.

Case 2:

The local emergency system verifies the incident, declares a mass casualty situation, and then activates the emergency plan, setting into motion the necessary agencies such as fire, police, and emergency medical services. A structure for the care of victims is established, and children and adults are triaged. An on-scene command post is established. Local hospitals are contacted to inquire about their respective patient care capabilities. All the children with moderate to severe lesions are referred to the nearest pediatric trauma center, whereas adults with moderate to severe lesions are sent to an adult trauma center. After all the severely injured victims have been transported, those patients with minor lesions are referred to primary care facilities.