A public health nurse is conducting a disaster preparedness drill for newly hired emergency department staff. The nurse is reviewing the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) algorithm for adult mass casualty incidents. Place the following triage assessment actions in the correct sequential order from first to last.
- 1Direct all survivors who are able to walk to a designated safe location.
- 2Assess the victim's respiratory rate and clear the airway if breathing is absent.
- 3Evaluate peripheral circulation by palpating for a radial pulse or checking capillary refill.
- 4Determine the victim's neurological status by asking them to follow a basic command.
Answer
The correct sequence for the START triage algorithm is to first direct the walking wounded to safety, then assess respirations, followed by perfusion, and finally mental status.
The START triage algorithm is designed for rapid assessment during a mass casualty incident. The process begins by clearing all ambulatory victims to a designated area. For the remaining non-ambulatory victims, the nurse sequentially assesses Respirations, Perfusion, and Mental status (remembered by the mnemonic RPM). This systematic approach ensures that victims with the most critical, life-threatening compromises are identified and tagged first.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) algorithm sequences assessment using the 'RPM' (Respirations, Perfusion, Mental Status) mnemonic after initially removing ambulatory victims.