JUMPSTART TRIAGE HELP
This app is intended to help students learn JumpSTART Triage.
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Triage in EMS generally describes the process of sorting mass casualty patients based on the severity of their conditions with the intent of prioritizing treatment and maximizing the number of survivors.
START is a mnemonic for simple triage and rapid treatment, and is a widely-accepted triage system for adults. JumpSTART is a derivative of START that is intended for children approximately 2 through 8 years old. It takes into account differences in respiratory rates and the ability of children to more easily recover from apnea than adults. Both are based on the following 4 color-defined categories:
| Red: | Immediate Care, First Priority |
| Yellow: | Delayed Care, Second Priority |
| Green: | Walking Wounded, Third Priority |
| Black: | Dead or Dying, Lowest Priority |
In the JumpSTART system, children who can walk to a designated location and are oriented are classified as Green. Children who are developmentally unable to walk are classified as Yellow unless they meet a Red or Black criterion. The others are classified according to their respirations, perfusion, and mental status.
Children who are not breathing, do not start breathing after an attempt to open their airways, and still do not start breathing after given 5 rescue breaths are classified as Black. Those who start breathing are classified as Red. This difficultly in absorbing this step is that a non-breathing child who could have a pulse would need to be left for dead in order to complete the triage.
Children who are spontaneously breathing more than 15 and less than 45 times per minute, have a capillary refill time less than 2 seconds, and can follow simple commands such as "Wiggle your fingers." or "Tell me your name." are classified as Yellow. All other children are classified as Red.
Some protocols require two attempts to open an airway and in many protocols the capillary refill check has been replaced by a pulse check.
Children who can walk but are too disoriented to follow directions would be classified as Red.
First responders must refer to their local protocols or use their own judgment for children with naturally occurring disabilities and for very young children and infants.
Of the various triage systems, none is perfect. One can imagine situations in which some patients might have a JumpSTART classification as Yellow but realistically be better classified as Red. In these cases, first responders must refer to their local protocols or use their own judgment.
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