Triage

During the first phases of an ongoing emergency, especially involving large numbers of children, the neonatal-pediatric CCITT may be asked to assume a role in triage and stabilization of patients' conditions in the field.

CCITT members are often the highest medically trained participants in mobile medical care who are available on an emergency basis, and unusual (eg, EMS participation and triage) requests may be made of them in a cri­sis, such as a local disaster or mass casualty situation. Basic awareness and training in a triage protocol, such as JumpSTART or other mass casualty triage tools, greatly increases the efficiency by which CCITT members can assess and treat patients. The specific tool recommended or used by the local EMS and emergency preparedness groups should be the triage tool used for training. Introductory training in triage enables CCITT members to provide better assistance to EMS personnel, who are trained to triage in the most effective manner during a mass casualty. Drills with local EMS agencies and classroom training that typically is reserved for EMS providers are excellent opportunities to become exposed to and practice these skills.