Question

6. Triage the following patients with rational as to why you triaged them in that way: Victim #1) School aged boy standing in the middle of the room. Pale, shaking, and crying out loud. No obvious injuries. Doesn’t respond when talked to, but seems alert and aware, and follows your gestures. Victim #2) Teenage boy in shorts with blistered reddened skin covering both legs. No evidence of burns above the legs. Alert and talking but has severe pain. No breathing complaints, RR 20. Pulse strong and mildly fast at 110. Good capillary refill. No other injuries. Victim #3) Young woman, obviously very pregnant. Complains of shortness of breath. RR 38, shallow, strained. Skin pale, cool and dry, capillary perfusion > 2 seconds. Conscious, alert, but very agitated. Attempts to answer but has trouble understanding. Victim #4) Disheveled adult male, poorly groomed. Wandering around without purpose, mumbling. Some scratches and abrasions, but no obvious injury. No breathing difficulties. He tells you his name and where he lives, but speech is bizarre. He thinks terrorists are nearby and will shoot him if he leaves. He admits having a psychiatric history. Victim #5) Elderly male in a wheelchair. Complains of severe chest pain, radiating to jaw, with nausea and light-headedness. Alert. RR mildly rapid at 28. Sweaty and pale. Pulse weak, 120. No signs of injury. Victim #6) Teen age girl trapped under an overturned piece of furniture. Only obvious injuries are scrapes, bruises, and a “goose egg” on her forehead. RR 24, pulse 120 and strong, good capillary perfusion. Dazed and confused, unable to help free herself or answer questions, speech garbled. Victim #7) Middle aged male. Unconscious. Large areas of red blistered burns on arms, chest, and face, with singed hair on face and head. Horrible burnt flesh smell. Respiration is shallow, irregular and very slow at 4-5/min. Victim #8) Healthy appearing senior female on floor with severe leg pain and light- headedness. Alert and able to answer questions. No respiratory complaints, RR 24. Pulse strong and mildly rapid at 120. Leg has deformity and open wound with bone sticking out. Some ongoing bleeding. Victim #9) Youngish woman, face down. Large bloody wound on the back of her head, with visible blood leaking through clothes in many spots. When you roll her over, she is limp and completely unresponsive. When you open her eyes, one pupil is large and fixed. Breathing is slow and irregular at 14, pulse is 60. Victim #10) Infant girl about a year old, found under victim #9. Crying loudly, moving arms and legs, has blood on her, but with close examination, no evidence of injury. No breathing distress, RR 28. Squirming too much to find a pulse, but good capillary refill. Victim #11) Preschool aged girl, sitting near victims 9 and 10. Crying and holding her arm which is obviously deformed. Several small cuts. Able to tell you her arm hurts and wants to know where her mother and sister are. RR 24, pulse 100. No other obvious injury. Victim #12) Obese late middle-aged male on floor, confused and mumbling. Responds somewhat to shaking, but not making sense. No obvious trauma. Skin is pale and sweaty and has tremors. RR 30. Pulse 140 but strong. A Med Alert tag on his neck says he has diabetes

Answer 1

Triage has 4 stages:

1.Black- dead

2.Red- emergency cases or people in life threatening situations

3.Yellow- clients with serious conditions but can be delayed not emergence but urgent cases

4.Green-clients who can walk by own or having small wounds or minor illness.

Triage is prioritizing the client with illness for treatment.

1.Victim #1-Green .Because he can walk by his own.only the problem is pale and shaking it can be due to exposure to cold conditions.His condition can be resolved if he take some rest or by providing warmer.It is not emergent or urgent hence comes under green.

2.Victim #2-Yellow.He is having blistered reddened wound in legs.Blister indicate second degree burns.According rule of nine each leg 18% so totally 36% for both legs.He is conscious having good capillary refill.It indicates no need of resuscitation.But soon he become dehydrated so consider it as urgent.

3.Victim #3-Red.she is having complaints such as pale,shortness of breath and capillary refilling more than 2 seconds indicates problems in breathing along to that she is pregnant delay in oxygen supply can cause fetal loss.Hence she must be in first priority.breathing should be established immediately.

4.Victim #4-Green.He is having minor abrasions and wounds.He is also psychiatric client but he is alert no any violating activities.Hence he can take in green .

5.Victim #5-Red. Radiating chest pain,Tachypnea.He is alert now.But within some minutes he can loss circulation hence immediately it should be ruled out.

6. Victim #6-Yellow.She has injuries .her vital signs stable.But her speech is unclear.May she may have nerve injury.It should be ruled out within some time and there is chance to undergo for surgery.Hence she comes under yellow

7.Victim #7-Red.He is unconscious.Vital signs are unstable or deteriorating.According to rule of nine for face 9%,arms 9% each and Chest 9% totally 36%.Deep burn injury.First he must be resusciate and make him stable.Along with that start with burn treatment to treat the dehydration.

8.Victim #8-Yellow .She has deformity in leg with bones exposing out.As she is conscious and alert and stable vital signs.She can come under category yellow.

9.Victim #9-Red.She have bleeding head injury.Unresponsive,pupil not reacting and worsened vital signs indicates she is in a life threatening situation.Immediately she has to resusciated.

10. Victim #10-Green.She is active ,vital signs stable,No injuries.She is crying it can be due baby is exposed to sudden situation make her fear.

11. Victim #11-Green.She is having vital signs stable,minor injuries and she is alert.

12. Victim #12-Red.He is confused,Unclear speech,Vital signs are worsening , and having tremors.He is having diabetes mellitus.It indicates it may be neurological complication occurs due to diabetes mellitus.Immediately it should be ruled out to avoid the serious neural conditions.