Evidence-based principles of time, triage and treatment: Refining the initial medical response to massive casualty incidents.

J Trauma Acute Care Surg

From the Joint Trauma System (S.A.S., M.A.R., S.K., R.S.K., J.B.B., J.G.), Defense Health Agency, San Antonio, Texas; Air Force Special Warfare 106 Rescue Wing (S.R.), Westhampton Beach, New York; and Office of the Joint Staff Surgeon (P.F.), Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

Published: August 2022

Background: The overall approach to massive casualty triage has changed little in the past 200 years. As the military and civilian organizations prepare for the possibility of future large-scale combat operations, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, potentially involving hundreds or even thousands of casualties, a modified approach is needed to conduct effective triage, initiate treatment, and save as many lives as possible.

Methods: Military experience and review of analyses from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry are combined to introduce new concepts in triage and initial casualty management.

Results: The classification of the scale of massive casualty (MASCAL) incidents, timeline of life-saving interventions, immediate first pass actions prior to formal triage decisions during the first hour after injury, simplification of triage decisions, and the understanding that ultra-MASCAL will primarily require casualty movement and survival needs with few prehospital life-saving medical interventions are discussed.

Conclusion: Self aid, bystander, and first responder interventions are paramount and should be trained and planned extensively. Military and disaster planning should not only train these concepts, but should seek innovations to extend the timelines of effectiveness and to deliver novel capabilities within the timelines to the greatest extent possible.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000003699DOI Listing

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