Stumbling upon a situation with several injured individuals can be overwhelming. However, having the right training and a clear plan can guide you from the moment you arrive to when professional help takes over. Below is a brief overview of how to respond after facing a multiple casualty incident.
Managing Multiple Casualties
Handling more than one injured person at the same time can require tough decisions regarding both treatment priorities and evacuation. Any scenario with multiple people needing help can be termed a “major incident.” Several factors—such as the number of patients, their ages, severity of injuries, number of rescuers, location, environment, and the presence of bystanders—will all influence how serious the incident is.
It’s easy to start with the person nearest to you, but that might prevent you from helping someone else whose injuries are far more urgent. To avoid this, you’ll need to conduct triage—quickly evaluating everyone’s condition and categorizing them according to urgency.
There are four triage categories, namely:
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Immediate (red tag)
Casualties that belong to this category have life-threatening but treatable injuries. Anyone assigned with a red tag requires immediate medical attention. They are also the first to be transported to the hospital when medical help arrives.
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Urgent (orange or yellow tag)
These are casualties who sustain serious injuries but can wait for a short time before receiving treatment.
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Delayed (green tag)
Green tag casualties can wait hours to days before treatment. These ‘minor casualties’ are usually separated from the more serious injury by asking them to move to a specific area.
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Dead (white or black tag):
The final group in which they categorize as the dead group or white group. Unfortunately, these are casualties you cannot help, and they cannot be resuscitated.
When emergency medical services (EMS) arrive on the scene, they will carry out their own triage. But first aid intervention with initial triage will help them in the handover of the situation.
First Aid for Multiple Casualties
Before anything else, any severe medical emergencies with one or more casualties should be directed to local emergency services. Call Triple Zero (000) or your designated emergency number in the area.
Then, follow these first aid steps.
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Assess the area for danger.
Do not proceed until you ensure that it is safe to do so. Make use of all your senses and apply look, listening, and smell as you assess the situation. Do not become another casualty.
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Do the triage assessment.
Do a quick scan of the scene and seek out the quiet casualties for treatment first. These are usually red tags as long as they are dealing with major bleeds. If there are other bystanders on the scene, get them to watch over the red casualties as you proceed with orange, yellow, and green tags.
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Bring out your first aid kit.
If you have a first aid kit with you, use it to attend and care for wounded casualties. If the person can treat themselves, give them some supplies to treat their wounds as you help others.
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Get others to help
Ask bystanders to help you monitor casualties and give out first aid materials. You may also need their help keeping the casualties in a recommended position or moving them to a safe place.
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Provide necessary information to EMS
When emergency services arrive and are ready to take over, brief them on what you have done and ask if you can do anything to help.
Learn how to plan your response in Multiple Casualties
First Aid Courses Sydney offers provide a first aid course to help you understand the process of giving care in major incidents. Learn how to do a primary survey, how to stop the bleed, apply DRSABCD and other first-aid procedures that are beneficial in all types of emergencies
To book a course, call our office on 08 7120 2570 or email us via courses@firstaidpro.com.au
Visit our website for more information.
