NEET PG High-Yield: Triage
Triage is the process of sorting patients based on the severity of their condition and the urgency of their need for treatment, particularly in mass casualty situations where resources are limited.
The START Triage System
(Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment)
| Category | Tag Color | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Red | Highest (Life-threatening but treatable) |
| Urgent | Yellow | Medium (Serious but stable for now) |
| Delayed | Green | Low (“Walking wounded”) |
| Expectant | Black | Deceased or moribund (Minimal chance of survival) |
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- Core Philosophy: “Doing the greatest good for the greatest number” rather than treating the most severely injured first.
- Assessment: In mass casualty, focus on RPM (Respiration, Perfusion, Mental Status) to quickly sort victims.
- Re-triage: Triage is dynamic; patients can be re-categorized as their condition changes or as more resources become available.