Page 191 - PJ MED OPS Handbook 8th Ed

Category Combat – chemlite Civil category – tag color
Immediate Cat A-Red Immediate-Red
Examples: any unstable casualty. This includes any MARCH issue, massive bleeding, airway obstruc-
tion, flail chest, pneumothorax, hemo thorax, open chest wound, unconscious/alive patient (severe
TBI), 20–70% burns, unstable VS

Delayed Cat B-Green Delayed-Yellow
Examples: any stable but non-ambulatory casualty. This inlcudes any open fractures with PMS in-
tact, evisceration, moderate TBI, stable VS, open eye trauma (penetrating, impaled object)
Minimal Cat C-no chemlite Minimal-Green
Examples: any ambulatory casualty. This includes closed fractures/sprains/dislocations with good
PMS, soft tissue injuries, mild TBI, anxiety, corneal abrasions

Expectant/Dead Hero-Blue chemlite Expectant-Black
Examples: obvious death, massive head/spine trauma, other injuries incompatible with life, >70%
burns

NOTES:
• Categories can be fluid, be prepared to re-assign.
• Constant reassessment in CCP is mandatory.
• Expectant patients in combat include patients who may be alive. In peacetime/civil SAR/
HA ops: all live patients can be red if severe injuries. If resources allow in combat – treat
live patients as red.
• In combat, assume all minimal patients will stay armed and engaged if no narcotics given.
• Time lines for exfil of 1 hour, 2–4 hours and 24 hours correspond to the categories.

Chapter 14. Triage and Mass Casualty Management n 189