TRIAGE and PRIORITIZATION

TRIAGE PROCESS
COLOR	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLE
RED	"immediate" need of treatment to save the client's life.	Bright red bleeding from a neck wound
YELLOW	"delayed," requiring intervention within 30 to 60 minutes.	Penetrating abdominal injury
GREEN	"minimal", who requires intervention but who can provide self-care if needed.	Fractured tibia
BLACK	"expectant", minimal chance of survival. Such clients receive supportive care and pain management but are given definitive treatment last.	Open massive injury in deep coma

PRIORITIZATION
1 Priority	Emergent	trauma, chest pain, severe respiratory distress or cardiac arrest, limb amputation, acute neurological deficits, and those who have sustained chemical splashes to the eyes
2	Urgent	simple fracture, asthma without respiratory distress, fever, hypertension, abdominal pain, or a renal stone have
3	NON-Urgent	minor laceration, sprain, or cold symptoms