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SALT Mass Casualty Triage Algorithm
(Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport)
— Adapted for a Very Large Radiation Emergency


SALT mass casualty triage algorithm

Adapted from:
Lerner EB, Cone DC, Weinstein ES, Schwartz RB, Coule PL, Cronin M, Wedmore IS, Bulger EM, Mulligan DA, Swienton RE, Sasser SM, Shah UA, Weireter LJ Jr, Sanddal TL, Lairet J, Markenson D, Romig L, Lord G, Salomone J, O'Connor R, Hunt RC. Mass casualty triage: an evaluation of the science and refinement of a national guideline. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011 Jun;5(2):129-37. [PubMed Citation]

Additional References:

  1. McGlynn N, Claudius I, Kaji AH, Fisher EH, Shaban A, Cicero MX, Santillanes G, Gausche-Hill M, Chang TP, Donofrio-Odmann JJ. Tabletop Application of SALT Triage to 10, 100, and 1000 Pediatric Victims. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2020 Apr;35(2):165-169. [PubMed Citation]
  2. Pepper M, Archer F, Moloney J. Triage in Complex, Coordinated Terrorist Attacks. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019 Aug;34(4):442-448. [PubMed Citation]
    • This article has an excellent literature review and comparison of many triage systems used around the world, including SALT and START. Although not about radiation incident specifically, its contents could be relevant to mass casualty radiation incidents and training for them.
  3. Lee CW, McLeod SL, Van Aarsen K, Klingel M, Franc JM, Peddle MB. First Responder Accuracy Using SALT during Mass-casualty Incident Simulation. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016 Apr;31(2):150-4. [PubMed Citation]
  4. Jones N, White ML, Tofil N, Pickens M, Youngblood A, Zinkan L, Baker MD. Randomized trial comparing two mass casualty triage systems (JumpSTART versus SALT) in a pediatric simulated mass casualty event. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2014 Jul-Sep;18(3):417-23. [PubMed Citation]
  5. American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Emergency Physicians; American College of Surgeons - Committee on Trauma. Model uniform core criteria for mass casualty triage. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011 Jun;5(2):125-8. [PubMed Citation]
  6. Lerner EB, Schwartz RB, Coule PL, et al., Mass casualty triage: An evaluation of the data and development of a proposed national guideline. Disaster Med and Public Health Preparedness, 2008;2(Suppl 1):S25-S34. [PubMed Citation]
  7. SALT mass casualty triage: concept endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, American Trauma Society, National Association of EMS Physicians, National Disaster Life Support Education Consortium, and State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008 Dec;2(4):245-6. [PubMed Citation]

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