Field Triage Tools in Mass Casualty Incidents: A Narrative Review
Fahad Mohamed Aldossari, Hussain Saleh Al Bensaad
Asian Journal of Medicine and Health · pp. 30–36 · Published 9 Apr 2024
10.9734/ajmah/2024/v22i61017Abstract
Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) pose significant challenges to healthcare systems, requiring rapid and effective triage strategies to optimize patient outcomes and resource utilization. This narrative review explores the evolution, effectiveness, ethical considerations, global perspectives, and future directions of field triage tools in MCIs. Beginning with the historical perspective, milestones in triage development, such as the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) protocol and its adaptations like Jump START and Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treat/Transport (SALT), are discussed. Current field triage systems are evaluated, including their application, limitations, and impact on patient outcomes. Training and education programs, challenges in triage education, and ethical/legal considerations in resource allocation and informed consent are examined. Global variations in triage systems, cultural factors, collaboration efforts, and standardization initiatives are explored to understand regional differences and promote interoperability. Future directions emphasize enhancing triage accuracy, integrating triage with healthcare systems, and research priorities. The review concludes with implications for practice and policy, calling for continued research, collaboration, and innovation to advance field triage capabilities and improve emergency response worldwide.
References (24)
- 1 Evolution of triage systems [DOI]
- 2 AN AUSTRALIAN MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT TRIAGE SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE BASED UPON TRIAGE MISTAKES OF THE PAST: THE HOMEBUSH TRIAGE STANDARD [DOI]
- 3 Review of the requirements for effective mass casualty preparedness for trauma systems. A disaster waiting to happen? [DOI]
- 4 Prehospital triage tools across the world: a scoping review of the published literature [DOI]
- 5 A systematic literature review of criteria and models for casualty distribution in trauma related mass casualty incidents [DOI]
- 6 The Use of Field Triage in Disaster and Mass Casualty Incidents: A Survey of Current Practices by EMS Personnel [DOI]
- 7 THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SURGERY [DOI]
- 8 Worldwide disaster medical response: An historical perspective [DOI]
- 9 Epidemiology of Mass Casualty Incidents in the United States [DOI]
- 10 Pilot Test of the SALT Mass Casualty Triage System [DOI]
- 11 Field Triage and Patient Maldistribution in a Mass-Casualty Incident [DOI]
- 12 Paramedic Accuracy Using SALT Triage After a Brief Initial Training [DOI]
- 13 START Triage: Does It Work? [DOI]
- 14 METASTART: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Diagnostic Accuracy of the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) Algorithm for Disaster Triage [DOI]
- 15 First Responder Accuracy Using SALT during Mass-casualty Incident Simulation [DOI]
- 16 A Scoping Review of the Essential Components of Emergency Medical Response Systems for Mass Casualty Incidents [DOI]
- 17 Triage Performance of School Personnel Using the SALT System [DOI]
- 18 Simple triage and rapid treatment protocol for emergency department mass casualty incident victim triage [DOI]
- 19 Effect of JumpSTART Training on Immediate and Short-term Pediatric Triage Performance [DOI]
- 20 Comparing the Accuracy of Three Pediatric Disaster Triage Strategies: A Simulation-Based Investigation [DOI]
- 21 Accuracy, Efficiency, and Inappropriate Actions Using JumpSTART Triage in MCI Simulations [DOI]
- 22 Triage systems around the world: a historical evolution [DOI]
- 23 The Usage of Triage Systems in Mass Casualty Incident of Developed Countries [DOI]
- 24 Prehospital Triage Tools across the World: A Scoping Review of the Published Literature [DOI]
Cited by 2
Sébastien Skolski, Julien Marx, Kadir Kalka · Oxymag · 2026
Asih-Dewi Setyawati, Yu-Ying Lu · Jurnal Keperawatan Padjadjaran · 2025
Related research
- Expectations and Realities: The Views and Experiences of HIV/AIDS Patients on Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme — shares topic coverage
- Availability and Readiness of Antenatal Care in the Primary Healthcare Setting in Ogoniland — shares topic coverage
- Satisfaction with Quality of Health Care among Teaching Hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepal — shares topic coverage
- Medical Tourism, Public Health and Economic Development in Nigeria: Issues and Prospects — shares topic coverage
- A Preliminary Review of Diversity in the Healthcare Workplace — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
33
Page views
0
PDF downloads
6
Outbound clicks
2
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.