Triage Priority of Anantharaman for Burn Patients in a Disaster

Anantharaman triaged burn patients in a disaster based on injury severity. The author is from Singapore General Hospital.

Findings	Status	Priority
severe cases in shock requiring resuscitation and emergency or urgent surgery	stretcher	first
30 - 90% significant burns in adults; 20-90% burns in children	stretcher	first
life-threatening inhalation injury	stretcher	first
moderate cases requiring resuscitation and early surgery	stretcher	second
15-30% significant burns; 10-20% in children	stretcher	second
< 15% significant burns in adults; < 10% burns in children	ambulant	third
mild cases requiring no or delayed surgery	ambulant	third
invariably fatal injuries		lowest
> 90% significant burns		lowest

where:

• The age distinguishing child from adult was not stated. I used < 16 years for child and >= 16 years for an adult in the implementation.

• Percent body surface area involved by burn included sum of second and third degree burns.

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