Monday, August 11, 2014

The Need For Triage Kits And Equipment

By Eric Holm


Triage is defined as the act of supplying support to individuals who may be sick or injured, but who cannot wait for qualified medical professionals. Doctors and nurses will be in short supply during a crisis, and everyday civilians may be called upon to care for others. This support will vary depending on the seriousness of the injury. During a disaster or a large scale accident, true medical professionals will be very busy and unable to attend to everyone who needs their services. This is where effective triage kits will come into play.

Just having a triage or first aid kits available is not enough to control a situation. It is necessary to know how to use the supplies. In most major disasters it is often first responders, fire, police and community volunteers who are the first to provide help. It is necessary for them to know how to set up a successful triage operation. Triage support is only given to those victims who cannot wait for professional treatment at a hospital. A triage kit generally is comprised of all the necessary items required for any emergency rescue and medical situation. Items like safety vests, colored tape, and stretchers form the very basic of triage kit. Some injury cases become so severe that the victims will need to be taken to the hospital as soon as possible. For such serious situations body bags may be needed. The body bags are especially designed to carry a human body to the nearest medical center. The dimensions of these body bags are generally around 36 inches by 90 inches. Though the body bags are used to carry corpses, during an emergency they can be used to take injured patients to hospital.

Most of these triage kits will contain a book which offers pointers on establishing a quick and effective station for helping those with less severe injuries. An understanding of CPR is important, and additional first aid books can also be very beneficial. Portable stretchers are ideal for quickly moving individuals to a safer area, while solar blankets can be a great tool for providing a bit of shelter and warmth to those who need it. When a large scale disaster strikes, the appropriate supplies are often hard to come by. This is why everyday civilians should prepare for these circumstances by having the necessary supplies on hand.

Preparing for a serious situation is often unpleasant, and many will ignore this preparation. It is important for everyone to understand that, although isn't fun, we must prepare for the worst in order to provide care for our neighbors, friends, and family members. An informed and prepared group of civilians can put themselves in a position to save the lives of others and alleviate the concerns and suffering that a disaster tends to cause.

All first responders and concerned civilian volunteers should be prepared at all times to provide basic care to those around them. Never ignore this information with the thought that a disaster or accident will never happen. At the very least, select one of many triage kits to keep in the home and even in the car. Even if its use never becomes necessary, it will still provide peace of mind.




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