Triage success in disasters: dynamic victim-tracking cards

A dynamic victim-tracking card developed for use in community or hospital disaster exercises was tested during two hospital and two airport disaster drills. Use of the card in 375 "patients" allowed testing of the ability to evaluate the decisions of triage, the early medical intervention for "victims," and the ongoing treatment of patients with a changing medical status. The card was successful in simulating realistic changes that may occur in critically ill and injured patients. Of the 126 "patients" evaluated in an actual exercise, 55 (43.6%) were placed in the proper triage category. Four patients "died" as a result of poor initial evaluation and treatment. Medical decisions during hospital and community disaster exercises can be more realistically tested and more accurately documented with the use of the dynamic victim-tracking card.