The Ten Second Triage Tool: Streamlining Incident Triage

Introduction to The Ten Second Triage Tool

The Ten Second Triage Tool is a powerful resource that provides recommendations for prioritising triage pathways based on incident specifics:

Simplifying Triage Decisions

With its straightforward question-based approach, the tool quickly determines the urgency of each incident:

• Clear Pathways: Each pathway is assigned based on simple yes or no answers, ensuring efficient prioritisation.
• Identifying Urgency: The tool categorises incidents into P1, P2, or P3, indicating levels of urgency, along with unfortunate cases of fatalities.
• Emphasising Key Instructions: Important medical instructions are highlighted in bold, ensuring vital measures are not overlooked.

Pathway Determination Examples

Let's explore some examples of how the Ten Second Triage Tool determines appropriate pathways:

• Walking Ability: If the patient can walk, the tool assigns a P3 level of urgency.
• Severe Bleeding: For cases of severe bleeding, measures like pressure application, tourniquet use, and packing are recommended, signifying a P1 priority.
• Verbal Communication: If the patient can communicate verbally, further questions are asked to determine the level of urgency.
• Breathing Capability: The ability to breathe is assessed, with appropriate actions taken based on the response, such as opening the airway or initiating CPR.

The Methane Model for Incident Management

The Ten Second Triage Tool also utilises the methane model to bring order and clarity to incident management:

• M: Major incident declaration
• E: Exact location of the incident
• T: Type of incident
• H: Hazardous conditions present
• A: Access routes to the incident
• N: Number of casualties involved
• E: Emergency services needed or present on site

Enhanced Data Collection

The tool allows for the recording of additional information, such as patient counts in each priority category and the number of non-breathing patients.

For more detailed information on how to use the Ten Second Triage Tool, please refer to the student download.