An Experimental Architecture for Observation of Triage Related Decision Making

The interpretation and use of standard triage protocols differ widely among first responders. We believe that experience among first responders is a major cause of these differences. The intent of this study is twofold; to present a novel design for an experimental architecture to observe first responders perform triage, and to use the experimental architecture in a pilot study to explore the hypotheses that expert first responders deviate from standard triage protocols, and experience makes expert first responders deviate from standard triage protocols and leads to more accurate triage assessments because experts consider physiological variables not looked at in standard triage protocols and recognize subtle physiological trends indicative of injury. Results from the pilot study demonstrated that particular physiological information given to expert subjects consistently caused the expert subjects to assign a higher triage assessment category than the START protocol dictated. This key physiological information included drops in the oxygen saturation level, prolonged airway obstruction, and signs of a serious internal injury.