175607 Louisiana: Bus Triage Plan for Mass Transit Evacuations during Emergencies

Monday, October 27, 2008: 11:15 AM

Doris G. Brown, MS, MEd, RN, CNS , Center for Community Preparedness, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Baton Rouge, LA
     
Purpose of Bus Triage

To triage for medically unstable clients on mass transit vehicles (buses) during evacuations. Triage is performed at an intermittent site while the bus in en route to its destination. The emphasis is also on speed and efficiency to get the buses back on route as soon as possible.

Objective

To evaluate clients on evacuating buses and quickly determine if it is medically safe for them to continue on their journey on the bus to designated Critical Transportation Needs Shelters, General Population Shelters or Medical Special Needs Shelters (MSNS). If it is not medically safe for the client to remain on the bus for the duration of the journey, then the client will be removed and placed on a transport vehicle and taken to a MSNS or a hospital for acute care stabilization.

Method

The triage plan incorporates the NIMS and consists of units of healthcare professionals operating in accordance with a footprint and guidelines specific for this mission. The plan is mobile and thus can be incorporated at other venues.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how to triage clients to quickly determine if it is medically safe for them to travel on the evacuationg buses to designated Shelters. Discuss how to evaluate clients quickly to determine if it is medically safe for them to continue on their journey on the evacuationg buses to Medical Special Needs Shelters (MSNS).

Keywords: Disasters, Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: No financial relationship
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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