A nurse is assisting in performing triage on several clients following a mass casualty event. The nurse should assign a red tag to which of the following clients?
A.
A client who has a sprained left ankle.
B.
A client who has an open traumatic brain injury and agonal breaths.
C.
A client who has sustained a partial amputation of the right leg.
D.
A client who is deceased.
E.
A client who has sustained a major burn to the upper torso and extremities.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
In a mass casualty event, triage is used to prioritize treatment for multiple clients based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of survival. The nurse uses a color-coded system to classify clients, with red tags indicating those who require immediate intervention to survive.
The correct answer is C. A client who has sustained a partial amputation of the right leg.
Explanation:
- Red Tag (Immediate):
- This category is for clients who have life-threatening injuries but are expected to survive if they receive immediate medical attention. The client with a partial amputation of the right leg is at high risk for severe blood loss, shock, and potential infection. Without immediate intervention, the client’s condition could deteriorate rapidly, making them a priority for treatment.
- Other Tags:
- Black Tag (Deceased/Expectant): Clients with injuries so severe that survival is unlikely even with treatment are assigned a black tag. For example, the client with an open traumatic brain injury and agonal breaths (option B) is likely to be assigned a black tag because their condition suggests imminent death. The deceased client (option D) would also receive a black tag.
- Green Tag (Minor): Clients with minor injuries that do not require immediate treatment are assigned a green tag. The client with a sprained left ankle (option A) fits this category as their injury is not life-threatening and can be treated after more critical clients are stabilized.
- Yellow Tag (Delayed): Clients with serious but not immediately life-threatening injuries are assigned a yellow tag. They require treatment but can wait a short period without significant risk. The client with a major burn to the upper torso and extremities (option E) may be categorized as yellow, depending on the extent of the burns and other factors like airway involvement.
Conclusion:
In this scenario, the client with a partial amputation (option C) is the highest priority for immediate intervention, justifying the red tag. This decision is critical in maximizing the number of survivors in a mass casualty event.