SALT (Sort » Assess » Lifesaving Interventions » Treatment/Transport) is the new Standardized, All-Hazards Mass Casualty Initial Triage System developed by an expert panel convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), This group was also supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and endorsed by ACEP, ACS-COT, AMA-NDLS, ATS and STIPDA.
SALT is designed to be utilized for all patients (adults, children and special populations) and allows agencies to easily incorporate it into their current MCI triage protocol through simple modification. Its use will decrease confusion when multiple agencies respond to disaster incidents... On the forefront of equipping First Responders with this benchmark field triage decision scheme, North American Rescue™ has developed the NAR T2™ Triage System as a uniformed model based on the
SALT standard for all its disaster triage tools.
More information about the SALT Triage System
- SALT Triage System
Why a national standard?
Standardizing triage technique and category names is expected to decrease confusion when crossing agency and jurisdictional lines. We know disasters frequently cross jurisdictional lines and/or require additional responders to be deployed from across the country, thus a national standard will allow all responders to use the same language and processes.
What makes this better than the other systems? How can you make a new system without validating it?
SALT triage is based on the existing triage systems. We critically evaluated all of the other triage systems and created a standardized system that is based on the others using the best scientific data available and expert opinion. SALT will be adjusted as more scientific data becomes available. Additionally, this triage system can be used by industry to develop products to support the system, but SALT is not proprietary and is in the public domain so it can be easily evaluated and improved.
Is this a proprietary system?
No, SALT is in the public domain.
What about communities that have made large investments in other systems?
For most systems only minor changes would be needed to make them compatible with SALT triage since SALT is based on the existing systems.
Why has an expectant category been included?
The expectant category is resource based. It is only needed if there are not enough resources at the scene to meet all of the demand. This allows providers to focus resources on potentially salvageable patients rather than applying resuscitation resources to those who are unlikely to survive. Further, we wanted to make sure that it was easy to find dying patients so they could receive resuscitation or comfort care when resources allow. These patients should be re-evaluated as resources become available and they should be easy to identify rather than having to be found amongst the victims who are dead.
Who could be trained to use SALT?
Responders of all levels could be trained in SALT. The individual patient assessment is designed to be used by people with any level of training. Further, since there is an emphasis on re-evaluation, as higher trained responders arrive on scene they will be able to re-sort and refine the triage decisions that lower level providers have made.
Will receiving hospitals and treatment facilities be able to use SALT?
Although SALT was designed for use at the scene of an incident it can be used at treatment facilities as well. Particularly, for victims who self-refer to these locations. Facility staff can be trained to use SALT.
Does SALT apply to special patient populations?
Yes, SALT is intended to work for any patient regardless of their age, or physical or mental limitations. If a victim can not walk or follow commands they would simply be assessed individually sooner than those who can. Further, we have modified our individual assessment to account for the physiologic differences of children.
