Triage is defined as the act of prioritizing patient according to the severity of their injuries. The idea behind a triage system is that it allows the medical personnel to treat as many patients as possible in situations where treating them is difficult due to situation, terrain, or shortage of medical personnel. Triage kits and their use are an essential part of the success of any triage operation. You will want to obtain a basic triage kit to set up your operation.

Emergency supplies packed into this type of disaster kit are very familiar to most people but there are some items that are designed specifically to address the unique challenges presented when there are several victims to help at one time. Injuries must be quickly evaluated for severity. Some will be minor enough that treatment can wait awhile. Some victims are categorized as delayed. These people will need to go to a hospital but transport is not urgent. Other injuries will be so severe that transportation to the nearest medical facility must happen immediately. The deceased will be put into body bags and await transportation to the morgue after all living victims have been treated. Disaster supplies needed include brightly colored vests to identify rescue workers and various colors of tape to mark patient status. These medical first aid kits should include some type of emergency manual with advice about conducting a rescue operation.

Manuals explaining how to do CPR and provide treatment for a range of minor injuries should also be included in this type of first aid kit. One or two portable stretchers will be necessary if there are people with serious injuries that need to be carried away from the disaster scene.

When a terrible accident or natural disaster occurs, it always pays to be well prepared. Having the proper first aid supplies, like solar blankets and other emergency equipment, can mean the difference between life and death if your community is faced with an emergency.

In most cases of natural disaster situations such as earthquakes, non medical personal will find themselves involved in a type of triage known as S.T.A.R.T. which stands for simple triage and rapid treatment. This is simply designed to identify the injuries quickly and get the most seriously injured to hospitals for full care as soon as possible. That's why it is important for professional first responders and all volunteers to know the ins and outs of triage kits and their uses.