Editing Triage (section)

=== Triage systems by country ===
==== Australia and New Zealand ====
In hospital settings, Australia and New Zealand rely on the ''Australasian Triage Scale'' (abbreviated ''ATS'' and formally known as the ''National Triage Scale'').<ref name="ethics">{{cite journal |vauthors=Aacharya RP, Gastmans C, Denier Y |year=2011 |title=Emergency department triage: an ethical analysis |journal=[[BMC Emergency Medicine]] |volume=11 |page=16 |doi=10.1186/1471-227X-11-16 |pmc=3199257 |pmid=21982119 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=November 2000 |title=Policy on the Australasian Triage Scale |url=http://www.acem.org.au/media/policies_and_guidelines/P06_Aust_Triage_Scale_-_Nov_2000.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Australasian College for Emergency Medicine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322001312/http://www.acem.org.au/media/policies_and_guidelines/P06_Aust_Triage_Scale_-_Nov_2000.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-22 |access-date=2011-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ACEM - Triage |url=https://acem.org.au/Content-Sources/Advancing-Emergency-Medicine/Better-Outcomes-for-Patients/Triage |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=acem.org.au}}</ref> The scale has been in use since 1994.<ref name="modern">{{cite journal |vauthors=Christ M, Grossmann F, Winter D, Bingisser R, Platz E |date=December 2010 |title=Modern triage in the emergency department |journal=[[Deutsches Ärzteblatt International]] |volume=107 |issue=50 |pages=892–98 |doi=10.3238/arztebl.2010.0892 |pmc=3021905 |pmid=21246025}}</ref> The scale consists of 5 levels, with 1 being the most critical (resuscitation), and 5 being the least critical (nonurgent).<ref name="ethics" />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Australasian Triage Scale
!Level
!Description
!Should be seen by provider within
|-
|1
|Resuscitation
|0 minutes
|-
|2
|Emergency
|10 minutes
|-
|3
|Urgent
|30 minutes
|-
|4
|Semi-Urgent
|60 minutes
|-
|5
|Nonurgent
|120 minutes
|}

In field settings, various standardized triage systems are used, and there is no area wide standard.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Field K, Norton I | title = Australian triage tags: a prospective, randomised cross-over trial and evaluation of user preference | journal = Emergency Medicine Australasia | volume = 24 | issue = 3 | pages = 321–328 | date = June 2012 | pmid = 22672173 | doi = 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2012.01573.x | s2cid = 25074668 }}</ref>

==== Canada ====
In 1995, the CAEP Triage and Acuity scale was launched in Canada relying on a simplified version of the Australian National Triage Scale.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1999 |title=A Uniform Triage Scale in Emergency Medicine: Information Paper |url=https://www.acep.org/siteassets/uploads/uploaded-files/acep/clinical-and-practice-management/resources/administration/triagescaleip.pdf |publisher=[[American College of Emergency Physicians]]}}</ref> This scale used three categories, emergent, urgent, and non-urgent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale: Education Manual |url=https://caep.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/module_1_slides_v2.5_2012.pdf |access-date=10 May 2023 |publisher=The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians}}</ref> This scale was deprecated in 1999 with the introduction of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS),<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2013 |title=The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale: Combined Adult/Paediatric Educational Program Participants Manual |url=http://ctas-phctas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/participant_manual_v2.5b_november_2013_0.pdf |access-date=10 May 2023 |publisher=Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians}}</ref> which is used across the country to sort incoming patients.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians website) |url=http://www.caep.ca/template.asp?id=B795164082374289BBD9C1C2BF4B8D32 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210093457/http://www.caep.ca/template.asp?id=B795164082374289BBD9C1C2BF4B8D32 |archive-date=2008-12-10 |access-date=2008-12-02}}</ref>  The system categorizes patients by both injury and physiological findings, and ranks them by severity from 1–5 (1 being highest).<ref name="jhas22">{{cite journal | vauthors = Alghalyini B, Shakir IM, Wahed MM, Babar SM, Mohamed MS |date=30 June 2022 |title=Does SARI Score Predict COVID-19 Positivity? A Retrospective Analysis of Emergency Department Patients in a Tertiary Hospital |url=https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0042-1748806.pdf |journal=Journal of Health and Allied Sciences |volume=13 |issue= |pages=077–082 |doi=10.1055/s-0042-1748806 |s2cid=250189262 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>  The model is not currently used for mass casualty triage, and instead the START protocol and METTAG triage tags is used.<ref>{{cite web |title=METTAG Triage Tags |url=http://www.mettag.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328180133/https://www.mettag.com/ |archive-date=2019-03-28 |access-date=2008-12-02}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS)
!Level
!Description
!Should be seen by provider within
|-
|1
|Resuscitation
|0 minutes
|-
|2
|Emergency
|15 minutes
|-
|3
|Urgent
|30 minutes
|-
|4
|Less Urgent
|60 minutes
|-
|5
|Non Urgent
|120 minutes
|}

==== France ====
In [[France]], the Prehospital triage in case of a disaster uses a multi-tier scale:

* ''Décédé'' (deceased), or ''urgence dépassée'' (beyond urgency)<ref name="Franceinfo_2018">{{Cite web |date=2018-12-13 |title=Attentats : que signifient "urgence absolue" ou "pronostic vital engagé" ? |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/soigner/attentats-que-signifient-urgence-absolue-ou-pronostic-vital-engage_3098925.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
* ''Extrême urgence (extreme urgency):'' requiring care within a half hour.<ref name="La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest_2017">{{Cite news |date=7 February 2017 |title=Extrême, absolue, relative comment trier les urgences |language=French |work=[[La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest]] |url=https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/deux-sevres/extreme-absolue-relative-comment-trier-les-urgences}}</ref> 
* ''Urgence absolue'' (absolute urgency):<ref name="Carli_2003">{{cite journal | vauthors = Carli P, Telion C, Baker D | title = Terrorism in France | journal = Prehospital and Disaster Medicine | volume = 18 | issue = 2 | pages = 92–99 | date = June 2003 | pmid = 15074489 | doi = 10.1017/S1049023X00000820 | s2cid = 31853138 }}</ref> requiring care within an hour.<ref name="La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest_2017" />
* ''Urgence relative'' (relative urgency):<ref name="Carli_2003" /> requiring care, but not immediately.<ref name="La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest_2017" />
* ''Blessé léger'' (slightly injured)<ref name="Franceinfo_2018" />
* ''Impliqué'' (involved, but not directly injured)<ref name="Franceinfo_2018" />
This triage is performed by a [[physician]] called ''médecin trieur'' (sorting medic).<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Hoyt DL, Wilson WJ, Grande CM  |title=Trauma |publisher=Informa Healthcare |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8247-2919-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hamada SR, Gauss T, Duchateau FX, Truchot J, Harrois A, Raux M, Duranteau J, Mantz J, Paugam-Burtz C | display-authors = 6 | title = Evaluation of the performance of French physician-staffed emergency medical service in the triage of major trauma patients | journal = The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery | volume = 76 | issue = 6 | pages = 1476–1483 | date = June 2014 | pmid = 24854319 | doi = 10.1097/TA.0000000000000239 | s2cid = 3405705 }}</ref>

==== Germany ====
The German triage system uses four color codes:<ref name="Franke_2020">{{cite journal | vauthors = Franke A, Bieler D, Friemert B, Hoth P, Pape HC, Achatz G | title = Terrorist incidents: strategic treatment objectives, tactical diagnostic procedures and the estimated need of blood and clotting products | journal = European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | volume = 46 | issue = 4 | pages = 695–707 | date = August 2020 | pmid = 32676714 | pmc = 7364295 | doi = 10.1007/s00068-020-01399-w }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+German Triage System<ref name="Franke_2020" />
!Category
!Meaning
!Action
!Examples
|-
|'''{{legend inline|red|Category TI}}'''
|Acute, life-threatening condition
|Immediate, highest priority treatment
|Arterial lesions, internal haemorrhage, major amputations
|-
|'''{{legend inline|yellow|Category T2}}'''
|Severe injury requiring urgent treatment
|Rapid transport and treatment
|Minor amputations, flesh wounds, fractures and dislocations
|-
|'''{{legend inline|green|Category T3}}'''
|Minor injury or no injury
|Physician examination, clearance and discharge as soon as possible
|Minor lacerations, sprains, abrasions
|-
|'''{{legend inline|black|Deceased}}'''
|Already [[Death|dead]], or expectant
|No/low priority. Identification, guarding and evacuation as possible
|Death, injuries not compatible with life
|}

In addition, also the "Manchester" triage system has been introduced in Germany as well as in its German speaking neighbour countries: in Germany itself in 2004, in [[Austria]] in 2009, and in German speaking parts of [[Switzerland]] in 2011 (see also [[w:de:Manchester-Triage-System|Manchester-Triage-System (in German)]].

==== Hong Kong ====
In [[Hong Kong]], triage in accident and emergency departments is performed by experienced [[registered nurse]]s, and patients are divided into five triage categories: ''Critical'', ''Emergency'', ''Urgent'', ''Semi-urgent'' and ''Non-urgent''.<ref>{{cite web
 | title = Guide to Accident & Emergency (A&E) Service
 | publisher = Hospital Authority
 | url = http://www.ha.org.hk/visitor/ha_visitor_index.asp?Content_ID=10051&Lang=ENG&Dimension=100&Parent_ID=10042
 | access-date = 2012-11-29
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120908014449/http://www.ha.org.hk/visitor/ha_visitor_index.asp?Content_ID=10051&Lang=ENG&Dimension=100&Parent_ID=10042
 | archive-date = 2012-09-08
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref> In mass casualty incidents, the [[START triage]] system is used.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Tingleung L |date=2020 |title=Disaster response approach in Hong Kong |url=http://html.rhhz.net/SYXKZZ/1596268862640-1973378719.htm |journal=Journal of Practical Shock |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=186–192}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | vauthors = Kwok-leung S |date=2013 |title=Disaster Response From Scene to Hospitals |url=https://www3.ha.org.hk/haconvention/hac2013/proceedings/downloads/PS1.1.pdf}}</ref>

==== Japan ====
In [[Japan]], the triage system is mainly used by health professionals. The categories of triage, in corresponding color codes, are:

* '''{{legend inline|red|Category I}}''': Used for viable victims with potentially life-threatening conditions.
* '''{{legend inline|Yellow|Category II}}''': Used for victims with non-life-threatening injuries, but who urgently require treatment.
* '''{{legend inline|Green|Category III}}''': Used for victims with minor injuries that do not require ambulance transport.
* '''{{legend inline|Black|Category 0}}''': Used for victims who are dead, or whose injuries make survival unlikely.

==== Portugal ====
In [[Portugal]], the "Manchester" triage protocol is used. <ref>[https://www.grupoportuguestriagem.pt/grupo-portugues-triagem/protocolo-triagem-manchester/ ''Sistema de Triagem de Manchester''; Grupo Português de Triagem.] Retrieved 2025-05-02.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Portuguese Triage Protocol
!Level
!Description
!Should be seen by provider within
|-
|'''{{legend inline|red|1}}'''
|Emergency
|0 minutes; needs immediate treatment
|-
|'''{{legend inline|orange|2}}'''
|Highly urgent
|10 minutes; needs practically immediate treatment
|-
|'''{{legend inline|yellow|3}}'''
|Urgent
|60 minutes; needs fast treatment, but can wait
|-
|'''{{legend inline|green|4}}'''
|Less Urgent
|120 minutes; may wait or be forwarded to other medical services
|-
|'''{{legend inline|blue|5}}'''
|Not Urgent
|240 minutes; may wait or be forwarded to other medical services
|}

==== Singapore ====
All public hospitals in Singapore use the Patient Acuity Category Scale (PACS) to triage patient in Emergency Departement. PACS is a symptom-based differential diagnosis approach that triages patients according to their presenting complaints and objective assessments such as vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale, allowing acute patients to be identified quickly for treatment. PACS classifies patients into four main categories: P1, P2, P3, and P4.<ref name="Fong_2018">{{cite journal | vauthors = Fong RY, Glen WS, Mohamed Jamil AK, Tam WW, Kowitlawakul Y | title = Comparison of the Emergency Severity Index versus the Patient Acuity Category Scale in an emergency setting | journal = International Emergency Nursing | volume = 41 | pages = 13–18 | date = November 2018 | pmid = 29887281 | doi = 10.1016/j.ienj.2018.05.001 | s2cid = 47014585 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Patient Acuity Category Scale<ref name="Fong_2018" />
|-
! Category (Priority Level)
! Category Name 
! Description
! Example
|-
| P1 
| Critically ill and requires resuscitation
| State of cardiovascular collapse or in imminent danger of collapse and require immediate medical attention.
| Multiple major trauma, head injury with loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, unconsciousness from any cause
|-
| P2 
| Major emergency 
| unable to walk and are in some form of distress, appear stable on initial examination, and are not in imminent danger of collapse, requires very early attention
| Chest pain, major limb fractures, major joint dislocations, spinal cord injury, trunk injury with stable vital signs
|-
| P3 
| Minor emergency
| able to walk, have mild to moderate symptoms and require early treatment
| All sprains, mild constant abdominal pain, fever with cough for several days, insect stings or animal bites (not in severe distress), superficial injuries with or without mild bleeding, minor head injury (alert, no vomiting), foreign object in ear, nose, or throat, urinary tract infections, headaches.
|-
| P4 
| Nonemergency 
| Old injury or condition that has been present for a long time.
| Chronic lower back pain, high cholesterol, acne.
|}

In mass casualty incidents, the [[START triage]] system is used.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Maruhashi T, Takeuchi I, Hattori J, Kataoka Y, Asari Y | title = The Tsukui (Japan) Yamayuri-en Facility Stabbing Mass-Casualty Incident | journal = Prehospital and Disaster Medicine | volume = 34 | issue = 2 | pages = 203–208 | date = April 2019 | pmid = 30957735 | doi = 10.1017/S1049023X19000128 | s2cid = 102349890 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Suzuki Y, Tsujiguchi T, Sakamoto M, Ito K, Tokonami S, Kashiwakura I |title=Current Situation of Triage Methods for Exposed Patients in the Acute Phase of a Nuclear Disaster |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/radiatenvironmed/9/1/9_41/_pdf |journal=Radiation Environment and Medicine}}</ref>

==== Spain ====
In [[Spain]], there are two models which are the most common found in hospitals around the country:

* The Sistema Estructurado de Triaje (SET), which is an adaptation of the Model Andorrà de Triatge (MAT). The system uses 650 reasons for medical appointment in 32 symptomatic categories, that together with some patient information and basic exploratory data, classifies the emergency within 5 levels of urgency.     
* The "Manchester", based on the system with the same name in the UK,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Azeredo TR, Guedes HM, Rebelo de Almeida RA, Chianca TC, Martins JC | title = Efficacy of the Manchester Triage System: a systematic review | journal = International Emergency Nursing | volume = 23 | issue = 2 | pages = 47–52 | date = April 2015 | pmid = 25087059 | doi = 10.1016/j.ienj.2014.06.001 }}</ref> use 51 reasons for consultation. Through some yes/no questions, addressed in a diagram, it classifies the emergency in 5 severities.
In mass casualty incidents, the ''Modelo Extrahospitalario de Triaje Avanzado'' (META)/Advanced Triage Out of Hospital Model system is used.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Castro Delgado R, Gan RK, Cabrera García V, Arcos González P | title = Sensitivity and Specificity of Spanish Prehospital Advanced Triage Method (META) | journal = Prehospital and Disaster Medicine | volume = 37 | issue = 3 | pages = 321–326 | date = June 2022 | pmid = 35379369 | doi = 10.1017/S1049023X22000504 | s2cid = 247954532 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Arcos González_2016">{{cite journal | vauthors = Arcos González P, Castro Delgado R, Cuartas Alvarez T, Garijo Gonzalo G, Martinez Monzon C, Pelaez Corres N, Rodriguez Soler A, Turegano Fuentes F | display-authors = 6 | title = The development and features of the Spanish prehospital advanced triage method (META) for mass casualty incidents | journal = Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine | volume = 24 | issue = 1 | pages = 63 | date = April 2016 | pmid = 27130042 | pmc = 4850631 | doi = 10.1186/s13049-016-0255-y | doi-access = free }}</ref> META is a seven-stage system, classifying patients as: Red 1st, Red 2nd, Red 3rd, Yellow 1st, Yellow 2nd, Green, and Deceased.<ref name="Arcos González_2016" /> The system aligns with the ABCDE framework.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Advanced Triage Out-of-Hospital Model/''Modelo Extrahospitalario de Triaje Avanzado'' (META)<ref name="Arcos González_2016" />
!Category
!Meaning
|-
|'''{{legend inline|red|Red 1st}}'''
|Compromised airway
|-
|'''{{legend inline|red|Red 2nd}}'''
|Not breathing, or abnormally breathing
|-
|'''{{legend inline|red|Red 3rd}}'''
|[[Asystole]], [[arrhythmia]], or hemorrhage
|-
|'''{{legend inline|Yellow|Yellow 1st}}'''
|Injury requiring urgent care
|-
|'''{{legend inline|Yellow|Yellow 2nd}}'''
|Injury requiring delayed care
|-
|'''{{legend inline|Green|Green}}'''
|Mildly or non-injured
|-
|'''Deceased'''
|Dead
|}

==== United Kingdom ====
In April 2023, the [[National Health Service|NHS]] and [[Ambulance services in England|ambulance services]] adopted two new triage tools to be used in [[major incident]]s, replacing the NASMeD Triage Sieve.<ref name="Vassallo_2022">{{cite journal | vauthors = Vassallo J, Moran CG, Cowburn P, Smith J | title = New NHS Prehospital Major Incident Triage Tool: from MIMMS to MITT | journal = Emergency Medicine Journal | volume = 39 | issue = 11 | pages = 800–802 | date = November 2022 | pmid = 36244685 | doi = 10.1136/emermed-2022-212569 | pmc = 9613863 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=NHS England » Major incident triage tools |url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/major-incident-triage-tools/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=www.england.nhs.uk}}</ref> These new tools resulted from a multi-stakeholder review led by the NHS but its implementation became more urgent after the Manchester Arena Inquiry made it a monitored recommendation for the NHS and National Ambulance Resilience Unit to adopt.<ref name="Vassallo_2022" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2022 |title=Report of the Public Inquiry into the Attack on Manchester Arena on 22nd May 2017 - Volume 2-II |url=https://files.manchesterarenainquiry.org.uk/live/uploads/2022/11/03141957/MAI-Volume-2-Part-ii.pdf |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Manchester Arena Inquiry |vauthors=Saunders J |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221090424/https://files.manchesterarenainquiry.org.uk/live/uploads/2022/11/03141957/MAI-Volume-2-Part-ii.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===== Ten Second Triage Tool =====
The Ten Second Triage Tool (TST) was introduced as a way for all emergency services, including the police and fire service, to assess and prioritise mass casualties to provide lifesaving intervention.<ref name=":0" /> The tool allows for rapid assessment by removing the need to measure physiological vital signs focusing on what the emergency responder can see.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=NHS England » Ten Second Triage tool |url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ten-second-triage-tool/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=www.england.nhs.uk}}</ref>

* '''{{legend inline|red|P1}}''' – Patients who have catastrophic bleeding, a penetrating injury or those who are unconscious
* '''{{legend inline|Gold|P2}}''' – Patients who are unable to walk but are conscious
* '''{{legend inline|Green|P3}}''' – Patients who are able to walk
* '''{{legend inline|grey|Not Breathing}}''' – Patients who are not breathing (this replaces the deceased category)

===== NHS Major Incident Triage Tool =====
The Major Incident Triage Tool (MITT) serves as the more advanced triage tool for emergency medial responders to triage casualties.<ref name=":0" /> The tool, derived from the Modified Physiological Triage Tool, can be used on both adults and children, and also includes the assessment of physiological vital signs.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=NHS England » NHS Major Incident Triage Tool (MITT) |url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/nhs-major-incident-triage-tool-mitt/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=www.england.nhs.uk}}</ref>

* '''{{legend inline|red|P1}}''' – Life-threatening injury 
* '''{{legend inline|Gold|P2}}''' – Unconscious but breathing
* '''{{legend inline|Green|P3}}''' – Non-life-threatening injury
* '''{{legend inline|black|Dead}}''' – No signs of life or non-survivable injury

==== United States ====
A multitude of triage systems exist in the United States, and there is no national standard.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Christian MD | title = Triage | journal = Critical Care Clinics | volume = 35 | issue = 4 | pages = 575–589 | date = October 2019 | pmid = 31445606 | pmc = 7127292 | doi = 10.1016/j.ccc.2019.06.009 }}</ref> Among local, regional, state, and interstate systems, the [[Simple triage and rapid treatment|START triage method]] is most commonly used.<ref name="Yancey_2023" />

===== United States Armed Forces =====
The U.S. armed forces utilize a four-stage system,<ref name="United States Marine Corps">{{Cite web |title=FMSO 107 CONDUCT TRIAGE |url=https://www.trngcmd.marines.mil/Portals/207/Docs/FMTBE/Student%20Materials/FMSO%20Manual/107.pdf |publisher=[[United States Marine Corps]]}}</ref> A battlefield situation, care providers rank casualties for precedence, treat those who they can safely, and transport casualties who need it to a higher level of care, either a [[Forward surgical teams|Forward Surgical Team]] or [[Combat Support Hospital]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=ATP 4-02.5: Casualty Care |publisher=[[United States Department of the Army]] |year=2013}}</ref>

The triage categories (with corresponding color codes), in order of priority, are:<ref name="United States Marine Corps" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/powerpoint/First_Aid_Presentations/triage-2.shtml|title=US Army Study Guide|access-date=2008-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914193002/http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/powerpoint/First_Aid_Presentations/triage-2.shtml|archive-date=2008-09-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S. Armed Forces Triage Categories<ref name="United States Marine Corps" />
!Category
!Description
!Conditions
|-
|'''{{legend inline|red|Immediate}}'''
|Life-threatening injury
|Airway or breathing issues, hemorrhage
|-
|'''{{legend inline|Gold|Delayed}}'''
|Potentially life-threatening injury
|Shock, Fractures and dislocations, abdominal, spinal, thoracic, or head injuries, uncomplicated major burns
|-
|'''{{legend inline|Green|Minimal}}'''
|Not life-threatening injuries
|Cuts, bruises, abrasions, small bone fractures, minor burns, strains/sprains, frostbite
|-
|'''{{legend inline|Black|Expectant}}'''
|Non-survivable injuries
|Cardiac arrest, massive head or brain trauma, Second or third degree burns over 70% or more of body
|}