Triage is defined as the act of prioritizing patient according to the severity of their injuries. The idea behind a triage system is that it allows the medical personnel to treat as many patients as possible in situations where treating them is difficult due to situation, terrain, or shortage of medical personnel. Triage kits and their use are an essential part of the success of any triage operation. You will want to obtain a basic triage kit to set up your operation.

A triage kit contains a number of items essential to any emergency rescue, trauma and/or medical situation. Safety vests and colored tape to designate the different levels of severity of injury are just scratching the surface of triage kits and the use. The levels of a triage unit are generally minor, delayed, immediate and morgue/deceased. Those defined as having minor injuries obviously don't need urgent help. Patients who are diagnosed as delayed can wait for transport to a hospital. Those diagnosed as immediate are taken to hospitals right away. For those morgue patients, body bags will be needed. Also included in a triage kit is a book on setting up your triage unit and how to perform common operations. You will also want to obtain the tools necessary, and a few CPR books, for quick and efficient CPR as well as a portable stretcher or two or three for easy and quick evacuation of the most seriously injured patients.

Triage kits and their use are something most of us hope never to need. But imagine the moment arises that your community needs to set up an emergency triage unit and you're able to help. Nothing will feel more fulfilling in that situation. Being able to contribute supplies such as your trauma kit or solar blankets to keep the patients warm in the field operation will be invaluable to your community in its time of need.

In most cases of natural disaster situations such as earthquakes, non medical personal will find themselves involved in a type of triage known as S.T.A.R.T. which stands for simple triage and rapid treatment. This is simply designed to identify the injuries quickly and get the most seriously injured to hospitals for full care as soon as possible. That's why it is important for professional first responders and all volunteers to know the ins and outs of triage kits and their uses.