Triage

Triage is the process of grouping the priority of patients' treatments based on the
severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are
insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The toll are divided into two, multiple patient
and mass causality disaster. Multiple patient is an incident or emergency that cause one
person have to be managed by more than one helper (not caused by a disaster). And
the mass casuality disaster is an emergency which need implementation of integrated
daily emergency response system and disaster (SPGDT-S and SPGDT-B). International
Color Code In Triage:The triage system is known for its internationally accepted 4 color
code system. Red indicates a high priority treatment or displacement, Yellow known as
moderate priority, green is used for outpatients, and black for cases of death or patients
before death. Nurses should be able to assess and classify patients within 2 - 3 minutes.
1. Priority 1 or Emergency: RED color (heavy case)
Patients with life-threatening conditions, requiring immediate evaluation and
intervention, severe bleeding, patients being taken to the resuscitation room, waiting
time 0 (zero)
Asphyxia, cervical injury, maxilla injury
Head trauma with coma and rapid shock process
Open fracture and compound fracture
Burns> 30% / Extensive Burn
Shock of any type
2. Priority 2 or Urgent: yellow color (medium case)
Patients with acute disease may require trolley, wheelchair or walk, 30
minutes waiting time, critical care area.
Thorax non asphyxia trauma
Closed fracture of long bones
Limited burns (<30% of TBW)
Injury to soft tissue / tissue
3. Priority 3 or Non Urgent: GREEN color (light case)
Patients who can usually walk with minimal medical problems, old wounds,
long-standing conditions, ambulatory areas / chamber P3.
Minor injuries
All ambulance / road cases
4. Priority 0: BLACK color (case of death)
No response to all stimuli
No spontaneous respiration
No evidence of cardiac activity
No pupil response to light
 In the disaster we need to help the person with high possibility to life first so they
can help to manage the disaster management or helping other people to work. Triage
teams responsibilllity are to preventing further or worsening damage, sorting through the
toll, protect the toll. Decision is important and integral part of medical and nursing
practice. Clinical assessment of patients requires both thought and intuition, and both
should be based on professional, knowledge and skills.

Koeshartono. 2011. GELS : General Emergency Life Support. RSUD Dr. Soetomo
FK UNAIR : Surabaya.